Promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief
Freedom of Religion or Belief Primary Project: Phase II Report
For the last two years, the team at Culham St Gabriel’s have supported teachers in four primary schools across England to explore how their children can engage with, and learn about, Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). This report summarises the outcomes and the experiences of those teachers and their children from Phase II of the project. The report explores how teachers can develop a ‘FoRB lens’. Teachers are then able to support their children to apply that lens when teaching existing units of work or lessons. In other words, this approach does not necessarily require the development of new units of work or lessons, rather the application of an approach.
Read the Freedom of Religion or Belief Primary Project: Phase II Report
Freedom of Religion or Belief Education in UK Schools: Towards Community Cohesion
This report is short summary of the work of a group of FoRB and FoRB-adjacent education providers who are working to “promote understanding, dialogue, tolerance, non-violence, and human rights” in UK schools.
The group is clear: FoRB and FoRB-adjacent education – including RE, Citizenship and PSHE – contributes to building more cohesive communities This report details a number of key themes of FoRB and FoRB-adjacent education and training identified by the group which could be harnessed to promote community cohesion in schools.
Surveying the Freedom of Religion or Belief and Education Landscape – a review (2024)
This review begins to map global efforts to promote Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) principles through educational interventions, and to trace research and scholarship pertaining directly and indirectly to these aims.
The review surveys academic literature as well as organisations and resources which deliver FoRB education to schools. The executive summary sets out recommendations for teachers, senior leaders and policy professionals, as well as suggestions for further research.
As the commissioning organisation of this review, Culham St Gabriel’s will be considering the recommendations and seeks to work with its partners, grantees and scholars to further promote and protect freedom of religion or belief though education.
I would like to express my thanks to Josh Cass and Kevin O’Grady for their work developing the review, to Dr Susan Kerr for writing such a thoughtful foreword, and to Tracey Francis for bringing the publication to life.
Kathryn Wright
CEO, Culham St Gabriel’s
Why is Freedom of Religion or Belief of interest and relevance to Culham St Gabriel’s?
This short paper outlines the Trust’s position regarding the importance of education in promoting and protecting freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), showing how it aligns with the Trusts’ vision and mission. The Trust is a member of the UK FoRB Forum which brings together civil society groups, faith or belief organisations, and human rights NGOs to advance the cause of freedom of religion or belief around the world. For more information see UK FoRB Forum website
Briefing Paper: Freedom of Religion or Belief and Education in the UK
This briefing paper explains Article 18 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, commonly referred to as Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and the commitments relating to FoRB and education made by the UK government.
