Ministers have accepted the Francis review call to bring religious education (RE) into the national curriculum – but have said the sector has to “reach consensus on whether this is achievable”.
Professor Becky Francis’ review has called for government to set up a taskforce to develop a national curriculum for RE.
Currently, all state schools must teach pupils the subject up to the age of 18, but the syllabus is determined at a local authority level.
Sector leaders said it was a “landmark moment”, and the government confirmed it will accept the proposals – but only if the “sector reaches a consensus on whether this is achievable”.
Sector must reach RE ‘consensus’
Francis called for the government to implement a staged approach to the introduction of RE to the national curriculum.
The sector would be invited to form a task and finish group, led by Dr Vanessa Ogden, CEO of the Mulberry Schools Trust, and panellists on Francis’ review.
Ogden has since been appointed as a regional director for the DfE, and we have asked for clarification she will still lead the group.
The expert group would then draft changes to the curriculum, and consider whether to remove requirements for sixth form pupils to study RE. This would be consulted on.
The DfE said it “will be shaped and guided by the sector on this important issue”.
“If the sector reaches a consensus on whether this is achievable, we will consult on the content of a draft RE curriculum and on proposed changes to the legislative framework within which RE sits.”
‘Landmark moment’
Richard Kueh, former RE teacher and Ofsted inspector for the subject, said the proposal was a “landmark moment” which teachers have been “hoping for and wanting”.
Kueh said comparing “complex, local arrangements” is like “trying to match pairs of socks, blindfolded, in a dark room”.
“I think this actually simplifies RE and makes it more attractive as a subject to teach,” he added.
But Kueh suggested government “needs to put the money where its mouth is” and reinstate the £10,000 bursary for trainee RE teachers.
Andrew Compton, CEO of Humanists UK added a “key challenge will be guarding against any suggestion of opt-outs for faith schools that might arise throughout the implementation process, and to make sure this recommendation is applied across all schools”.
