On 4th July 2018 the REC organised a Parliamentary luncheon to discuss the barriers and challenges to RE teacher recruitment with MPs and policy experts. The lunch was attended by Liz Twist MP, Simon Hoare MP, Stephen Timms MP, a researcher from the office of Nick Gibb, and representatives from the National Education Union, the … Read more
Second RE Youth Debate
On Monday 9th July 2018, 80 Year 10-12 students from schools across England came to Parliament to debate some of the key issues around the teaching of Religious Education.Four of the schools involved are members of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales (REC) Young Ambassador scheme. Liz Twist MP and historian of religion, … Read more
Commission on RE discussed at Downing Street
The RE Council’s Chief Executive, Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, and the drafter of the Commission on Religious Education, Amira Tharani, went to 10 Downing Street on Monday 11 June to discuss the progress of the Commission on Religious Education with the Prime Minister’s Special Adviser on Faith and Communities and the Head of Education at Downing … Read more
Religious Education Council appoints Kishan Devani as an REC Ambassador
The Religious Education Council (REC) has appointed Kishan Devani FRSA to undertake ambassadorial work on its behalf. Kishan will be working with faith and belief communities, and with politicians, to increase their awareness of and support for the REC’s work. Kishan is a politician, consultant, and former head of religious studies at a school in … Read more
New guidance on non-religious SACRE members in Wales
New guidance in Wales has clarified the position of non-religious people sitting on SACREs in Wales. Kirsty Williams AM, the Cabinet Secretary for Education in Wales, in a letter states “representatives from non-religious belief systems may be appointed to Group A of a SACRE or ASC, to ensure that SACREs/ASCs fully reflect the beliefs of … Read more
RE represented at political party conferences for fourth year running
For the fourth year running, the RE Council, NATRE and RE Today represented religious education on stands at the Labour and Conservative party conferences. Representatives from all three organisations, including teachers of RE, spoke with approximately 15 parliamentarians at the Labour conference and approximately 30 parliamentarians at the Conservative conference about the importance of good religious education, and why it matters so much today in modern Britain.
