Local authorities across England are mandated to renew their Religious Education (RE) curriculum every five years, ensuring that the teachings remain relevant and reflective of the diverse society in which students live. In line with this requirement, Lancashire County Council has taken the initiative to convene an ‘agreed syllabus conference’ that will play a crucial role in defining how pupils will learn about religion in the county’s schools once the current teaching model concludes in September 2026.
Religious Education occupies a unique position in the educational landscape of the UK. While there is no overarching national curriculum specifically for RE, legislation stipulates that local syllabuses, which are set by individual councils, must recognize that the primary religious traditions in Great Britain are predominantly Christian. This legislative framework mandates that local syllabuses also incorporate teachings and practices from other significant religions represented within the country, fostering an inclusive approach to education that reflects the rich tapestry of beliefs in contemporary Britain.
As the agreed syllabus conference embarks on its work, a central focus will be the selection of non-Christian religions to be included within the syllabus applicable to the Lancashire County Council area. Notably, this conference does not encompass the districts of Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen, meaning that its decisions will specifically impact the schools under the jurisdiction of Lancashire County Council.
In addition to the selection of religions, the conference must also respond to a recent wave of legal rulings that have emphasized the necessity of incorporating non-religious beliefs within the RE curriculum. These rulings underscore a more secular understanding of spirituality, reflecting the reality that a significant segment of the population identifies with non-religious beliefs or worldview frameworks. This requirement necessitates that educational institutions approach the study of religion in a manner that is not only comprehensive but also respects the philosophical diversity of students’ backgrounds and beliefs. Depending on their status—whether they are faith schools, academies, or free schools—educational institutions must navigate adherence to the locally agreed RE syllabus or align their teachings with their own trust deeds, making the task for the conference all the more critical.
The members of the conference will convene multiple times over the next 18 months, working diligently towards finalizing the new RE curriculum arrangements by spring 2026, in anticipation of its implementation in the autumn of that year. The objective is clear: the conference must develop a coherent and instrumental program for RE that caters to students aged five to 18. This program will not only articulate the content to be taught within each year group but will also demonstrate how knowledge and skills can be effectively developed across each educational stage. By providing a structured outline, the new syllabus aims to ensure that students acquire the necessary understanding and respect for various belief systems over their years of schooling.
Central to this effort is the establishment of clear standards for pupil performance in RE, providing a foundation for assessment and evaluation. The conference is being formed with representatives from diverse groups that comprise Lancashire County Council’s standing advisory committee on religious education. This includes voices from the Church of England, other Christian denominations, various faith traditions that reflect the predominant religious demographics of the area, teaching unions, and representatives from the local authority itself. By bringing together this diverse array of perspectives, the conference seeks to create an RE curriculum that is representative, inclusive, and sensitive to the multifaceted religious environment of Lancashire.
In addition to establishing content and performance standards, the agreed syllabus conference will also make recommendations regarding the amount of teaching time that the new local RE curriculum should ideally require. While schools retain the ultimate authority to decide the specifics of their timetables, current suggestions propose that RE should account for approximately five percent of the overall curriculum in Lancashire schools. This highlights a move toward ensuring that students receive a balanced and comprehensive education that respects the importance of religious literacy in an increasingly interconnected world.
Despite the legislative requirements mandating the teaching of RE in all state schools— which encompasses academies and free schools—the implementation of the new Lancashire syllabus will apply automatically in maintained schools operated under the county council’s governance. In contrast, academies and free schools will have the discretion to adopt the Lancashire syllabus or elect to utilize an RE curriculum offered by other providers, thereby allowing a degree of flexibility in how they approach this critical area of education.
It is also worth noting that parents maintain the right to withdraw their children from RE lessons without needing to provide justification, reflecting the importance of parental choice within the educational framework. This provision serves as a reminder of the delicate balance that schools must strike between promoting a comprehensive understanding of religion and respecting the personal beliefs and values of families within the community.
As the agreed syllabus conference gathers momentum in its efforts to redefine the RE landscape in Lancashire, it does so against a backdrop of broader societal changes and discussions surrounding faith, inclusivity, and the educational priorities of the 21st century. As questions about identity and belief become ever more pronounced in public discourse, the importance of religious education that fosters respect, understanding, and critical thinking cannot be overstated.
Engaging students with varied religious backgrounds and beliefs encourages dialogue and learning, creating an environment conducive to the promotion of tolerance and mutual respect. Among the principal goals of the revamped RE curriculum will be to equip students with the ability to engage thoughtfully with their own beliefs and the beliefs of others, fostering a community of informed citizens capable of navigating issues of faith and belief with sensitivity and awareness.
The potential impact of the new syllabus extends beyond the classroom, influencing how young individuals interact with one another within their communities and forming a foundation for social cohesion in a pluralistic society. As Lancashire County Council moves forward with its agreed syllabus conference, the decisions made in upcoming meetings will be critical in shaping the educational landscape for generations to come.
Ultimately, the new RE curriculum aims to create not just knowledgeable students but individuals who are empathetic and engaged, ready to contribute positively to society that is rich in diversity and belief. The relevance of religious education in today’s world.