Religious education: a year of change
This is a important moment for the teaching of RE, says Sarah Lane Cawte
www.churchtimes.co.ukHere are the latest developments in Religious Education (RE) news from credible recent sources:
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UK-wide RE policy and standards discussions continue to dominate the agenda. In early 2025, there were strong calls for a National Plan for Religious Education and updates to GCSE/A-level content and national standards, signaling a push toward more coherent, high-quality RE across schools. These discussions reflect ongoing efforts to raise accountability and improve teacher training in RE.[1][3]
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In Northern Ireland, authorities indicated ongoing reform of the RE syllabus to include a broader range of religions and philosophical perspectives, while Christianity would remain central. A public consultation was planned with aims to implement a revised RE curriculum by September 2027, signaling a major curricular update on the horizon.[4]
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There is continued attention to how RE is taught in schools, including concerns about ensuring that the subject equips students for life in modern Britain. Independent commissions and education-focused outlets have stressed strengthening RE through national plans, teacher training, and local advisory structures.[5]
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In England, watchdog and church-aligned outlets have highlighted the importance of RE as an academically rigorous subject and a robust part of the curriculum, with repeated calls for strengthened provision and teacher support.[9][5]
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Notable broad-based RE coverage in 2024–2025 also touched on official assessments and curricular reviews that could influence RE content, with several outlets reporting on OFSTED’s findings and implications for future RE practice and assessment standards.[3][1]
If you’d like, I can pull the latest specific headlines from these outlets, summarize the key policy proposals, and map out how they might affect RE expectations in your locale (Malta or nearby UK jurisdictions). I can also provide a quick briefing on what a revised RE curriculum could look like by 2027 and what this means for teachers and schools. Please tell me which region(s) you want the focus on and whether you prefer a bullet-point briefing or a short narrative.
Citations:
- NATRE and Curriculum/Assessment Review updates on RE policy and standards[1]
- Northern Ireland RE syllabus reform and timeline for 2027[4]
- RE policy unit and national-plan discussions; strengthening RE through training and local governance[5]
- RE coverage and advocacy from Religion Today/RE-focused outlets[3][9]
- Historical context on OFSTED and RE subject reporting and implications[1]