On November 5th, while fireworks were lighting up the sky and offering brief bursts of colour into the darkening evening, another kind of illumination arrived — though arguably a less joyful one. The Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report was published that day. Among its 197 pages, the section on Religious Education proposes changes that touch directly on the identity and mission of Catholic schools.
The report includes two major shifts that raise concerns:
- That RE be moved from the basic to the national curriculum; and
- That the statutory requirement to teach RE post-16 be removed entirely.
At first sight, both might sound reasonable. After all, the 5% requirement for RE in sixth forms is inconsistently met across the country, and the report notes that removing it would “better reflect existing practice.” It also frames the change as allowing greater student choice.
But as the Association of Teachers of Catholic RE (ATCRE) points out, RE in Catholic schools is not merely another timetable block: it is the core of the core curriculum. Removing the sixth form requirement risks narrowing a broader, holistic vision of education — one in which learning is valued not solely for university entry or career pathways, but as part of a young person’s search for meaning and purpose.
The other proposal — elevating RE to national curriculum status — may at first appear like overdue recognition. The report rightly praises the significance of well-taught RE: its impact on moral imagination, its role in fostering respectful relationships, and its capacity to help pupils grapple with profound questions.
Yet its proposed solution to uneven quality across the country is a national curriculum for all schools, including faith schools. The report acknowledges this would require ‘trade-offs’ and ‘compromises’. Paul Barber, Director of the Catholic Education Service, expresses what many educators feel:
Catholic schools already dedicate 10% of curriculum time to RE — far more than most non-denominational schools — offering substantial study not only of Catholic Christianity but also of Judaism, Islam, Sikhism and worldviews. This is RE that forms understanding and builds community cohesion.
ATCRE commend the report’s desire for dialogue among stakeholders as a good step toward the common good. But they also reaffirm a truth at the heart of Catholic education:
The path ahead is uncertain. But moments of challenge often invite a return to what matters most.
Seeing the Treasures
This period of national review, unsettling as it may feel, is also a moment of opportunity: a chance to recognise the strength and depth of Catholic RE at precisely the time when the new RE Directory, ‘To Know You More Clearly’, is bringing fresh energy into classrooms.
Catholic RE has always offered more than knowledge; it offers young people access to wisdom, identity, community, purpose and hope. These are treasures not only for Catholics but for everyone.
Our new free guide, ‘Five Treasures of Catholic RE’, draws on both the RE Directory and Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical ‘Drawing New Maps of Hope’ to reflect on these gifts — gifts that help Catholic schools face the future not with anxiety, but with confidence.
A key treasure among them is the irreplaceable gift of teachers who are willing to be formed in a subject that may be unfamiliar. Across the country, there is a shortage of RE specialists, and Catholic schools are no exception. Many schools rely on staff teaching RE as a second subject or coming from non-Catholic backgrounds. Formation is vital — and yet the proposed removal of the RE bursary makes the landscape even more challenging.
Teachers need support, nourishment and confidence if they are to teach RE with depth and integrity. Formation is not optional; it is the lifeblood of the mission.
A Pathway for Formation
That is why our RE Deep Dive programme is flexible enough to work alongside the busy rhythms of school life. Short, story-led videos allow staff to deepen their understanding of the faith — not through heavy academic sessions, but through accessible reflections that can be watched on a commute, during a lunch break or built into department time.
With over sixty videos featuring excellent speakers, RE Deep Dive supports staff who are new to the subject, those from non-Catholic backgrounds, and experienced teachers seeking fresh insight. Its purpose is simple: to help every Catholic school connect the foundations of the faith to the great story of salvation that animates the RE Directory.
A Gift for December
If you are an RE Lead and these reflections resonate — or if you would welcome a moment to reflect again on the treasures at the heart of Catholic RE — we invite you to explore the ‘Five Treasures of Catholic RE’.
