Response to Curriculum and Assessment Review Interim Report 18th March 2025

My Chair of Trustees and I welcome the interim report from the Curriculum and Assessment Review Panel.

In particular we welcome the following statement on p.29 of the report,

Despite the fact that RE is compulsory for all pupils up to the age of 18 (unless they are withdrawn), evidence suggests that a lack of national agreed content standards has led to national disparities in the quality of provision.

We agree that the current status of religious education as part of the basis curriculum has led to inequity of pupils’ experience. Therefore, we reiterate our position regarding the subject becoming part of a new national curriculum. We understand that necessary safeguards may need to be put in place to ensure that schools with a Trust Deed (for example, some schools with a religious designation) are able to remain true to their foundation. However, we believe that the religion and worldviews community must come together for the common good in this moment for the benefit of all pupils to ensure equity and justice in terms of provision, standards and content.

Our sense is that there is widespread agreement that the status quo in relation to RE is untenable. This has previously been highlighted by Ofsted (2024). Whilst we acknowledge the challenges of making necessary changes to the position and status of the subject, this review provides a once in a generation opportunity to do so.

We agree that much more attention needs to be given to how this would work out in practice, but believe the consensus around the National Content Standard for RE in England provides a starting point. We encourage the panel to engage with stakeholders in the religion and worldviews community to ensure all voices are heard and that an equitable way forward is found.

Kathryn Wright
CEO, Culham St Gabriel’s Trust

Linda Whitworth
Chair, Culham St Gabriel’s Trust

A summary of our submission to the Curriculum and Assessment Review is available here: