Culham St Gabriel’s Trust Welcomes Sector-Wide Consensus for a New RE National Curriculum

Dr Kathryn Wright, CEO, and Dr Linda Whitworth, Chair of Trustees, today welcomed the Secretary of State for Education’s announcement that the sector has reached consensus, allowing religious education programmes of study for the national curriculum to move forward to consultation. They described the proposed reform as a “once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to ensure high‑quality RE for every child in every school”.

Kathryn Wright, CEO, stressed the importance of this moment:

“This consensus is a historic moment for the subject. The proposed national curriculum for RE is a commitment to equity, coherence, and opportunity for all young people. It ensures every child, regardless of geography or school type, receives the high‑quality RE they are entitled to.”

Consensus achieved across the sector

The Trust highlighted the substantial progress made over the last few years within the sector, including the publication of the National Content Standard for RE (2023), which has helped professionalise and strengthen curriculum design.

Leaders across the education community – teachers, CEOs, diocesan directors, academics, advisory bodies, and pupils -have increasingly recognised the fragility of the current system and the need for reform. Polling, media coverage, and responses from schools show a clear appetite for a coherent, fair, and future‑proofed national approach.

Linda Whitworth, Chair of Trustees, said:

“Consensus is not about everyone thinking the same way; it’s about a shared commitment to doing what is right for children. A proposed national curriculum creates the secure foundation we need for diversity in RE to thrive in every school”.

Nansi Ellis, Vice Chair of Trustees, said:

“This is a significant step forward for the system as a whole. A shared national curriculum for RE will bring much-needed coherence and clarity, while still enabling professional judgement and local responsiveness. It reflects the kind of collaborative, evidence-informed policy-making the sector has been working towards for many years”.

Celebrate this historic moment

The Trust views this moment as rare and significant. The proposed reform offers the possibility of finally overcoming decades of fragmentation while strengthening RE for future generations.

The Trust calls on teachers, school leaders, policymakers, parents, and supporters of high‑quality education to celebrate this sector wide consensus and to stand behind this landmark opportunity. This is a pivotal moment for Religious Education and a significant step forward for the common good.

Press and Media enquiries to: hannah@cstg.org.uk

Culham St Gabriel’s is a endowed charitable foundation championing religion and worldviews education. www.cstg.org.uk