Religious education newsletter - March 2025

Should RE be a National Curriculum subject? You may be aware that currently it sits outside the NC, as part of the Basic Curriculum, alongside Sex Education.

But, with a full-scale DfE Curriculum and Assessment Review currently taking place, there has been much talk about whether teachers of RE would be in favour of having a national curriculum.

The legal position is for maintained schools to follow an Agreed Syllabus which is drawn up by the local SACRE, with academies encouraged to use this syllabus, but free to plan, write or buy a different one.

The advantages of being in the NC would be

• more consistent provision across all schools

• a set of common standards

• more reliable progression across phases

However, one key question is: who would write the curriculum? Could we trust a future government not to use it for political purposes?

REonline ‘In Focus’ offers further information. What do you think? You may be asked for a view in a future consultation.

LTLRE hub (twilight) meetings are free and open to all teachers of RE, primary and secondary. See LTLRE website for full details.

Cornwall hub: Thurs 13 Mar

Mid Devon hub: Wed 26 Mar

Exeter hub: Thurs 3 April

South Devon and Torbay hub: Thurs 26 June

LTLRE conference 2025: October (details to follow)

Ramadan will be taking place from Fri 28 Feb to Sun 30 Mar 2025. BBC resources

Useful information has been produced by Devon County Council and Lewisham Islamic Centre as guidance for schools where Muslim children may be fasting.

Ramadan Football Festival

As part of Ramadan, Devon FA is working in partnership with the University of Exeter to run a Football event in celebration of Ramadan.

Join in by participating in a Community Iftar (fast-breaking).

Date:    Sunday 9 March, 6pm – 10pm 

Venue: University of Exeter

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RE conferences

Salisbury RE conference (online): Wed 26 March with Revd Anjali Kanagaratnam £60

Bath and Wells conference (Wells):  Fri 2 May with Gillian Georgiou £50

RE Calendar Dates

The RE calendar on the REonline site has a useful listing of festivals and religious observances.

Awareness Days is a helpful site for cultural events.

Lent 5 Mar – 17 Apr: Pope Francis- 15 acts of love

Easter Sunday 20 April: Easter Explained

Baisakhi Festival is celebrated by Sikhs on 14 April. It marks the formation of the Khalsa.

RE Hubs

Visit the RE Hubs website for all your RE needs: accredited School Speakers, Places of Worship, Advertise RE Jobs, Resources, Calendar of CPD Events, Local Groups.

Access local Religion and Worldviews visitors for RE

MAT RE leaders’ network meeting

Do you lead RE across a MAT? 1 April, 4-5.30pm 

Local network leaders’ meeting

Do you lead a local RE hub group? 15 May, 4-5.30pm 

Understanding Humanism

Understanding Humanism is a great resource to support teachers exploring non-religious worldviews as part of an inclusive RE. 

You can book a free, trained and experienced visitor to share their life experience and knowledge, bringing a personal dimension to young people’s study of humanism that goes ‘beyond the textbook’.

Teacher CPD training is also available to boost your subject knowledge.

Short animation on Humanist ideas: in ‘Human nature, human potential’, Alice Roberts explores the questions at the heart of humanism: ‘What are we?’ ‘What are we capable of?’ and ‘How should we make best use of our capacities?’.

The Bible in a Nutshell

The Bible in a Nutshell - High Bickington, North Devon EX37 9PN Wed 5 March

This free course will take you from Genesis through to Moses and the Promised Land, the Kingdoms of Saul, David and Solomon, and onwards to the Exile Period and the coming of the Prophets. Booking here.

Understanding Muslims, Understanding Islam

This is an extensive new resource exploring lived Islam, using the voices of contemporary Muslims to open up what it means to be Muslim in Britain and beyond. The religion and worldviews approach applies different disciplinary tools, drawing on authentic sources from within Islamic tradition.

Is God making a come-back?

A poll of 10,000 people suggests Gen Z teens and twenties in Britain are more likely to say they are “spiritual” than older people, and less likely to identify as atheists than their parents or grandparents.

Jewish life in Britain

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has released a free online KS3 resource about anti-Semitism. An introduction to Jewish life in Britain – culture, religion, and history explores the diversity within the Jewish community. Follow the link and register a password for your school.

A Level RS

Visit Joe Kinnaird’s website for inspired ideas about teaching A Level RS: essay intros, powerful knowledge, ‘They say, I say’, Nietszche and the nature of God.

Faith and Belief speakers

Develop your skills and build your confidence to become a faith and belief school speaker. This FREE COURSE, led by qualified professional trainers, will provide you with the understanding of what’s needed to become a schools visitor.

South West Faith Education Services provide educational workshops and assemblies to schools throughout Devon. They offer inspiring sessions from Sikh, Hindu and Muslim speakers.

Plymouth Centre for Faiths and Cultural Diversity facilitates visitors for RE in schools from different beliefs, faiths and cultures. Sessions explore common values, hopes and visions for the future well-being of the individual and community.

Bristol Bus Boycott

One of the Meanwhile, Elsewhere resources includes a worksheet about the Bristol Bus Boycott, which took place in 1963 and was inspired by Rosa Parks’ actions in Montgomery Alabama.

New RE syllabus for Devon, Torbay and Plymouth schools

The new syllabus is available here.

Password: DevonREsyllabus2024 or PlymouthREsyllabus2024.