New Government Cohesion Paper Puts Religious Education Back in the Spotlight

A new cross-government publication from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government signals a renewed and significant focus on Religious Education as part of the UK’s wider social cohesion agenda.

Protecting What Matters: Towards a more confident, cohesive and resilient United Kingdom explicitly links RE to building understanding, respect and shared values, committing to “drive up standards in the teaching of Religious Education” and stating that government will “carefully consider including Religious Education in the national curriculum, subject to the sector reaching consensus.”

The paper also recognises the role of SACREs at a national level, highlighting their contribution to local communities and signalling greater attention to their work through improved use of annual reports.

For teachers of RE, this matters. It places the subject firmly within current government priorities, not only as a curriculum area but as a key contributor to community cohesion and public understanding of religion and belief. It also reinforces the importance of the sector’s ongoing work to build consensus around a high-quality national entitlement for all pupils.

The infographic below draws out the key messages for the RE community.