Best Practice

RE: Deep and meaningful?

Languages and humanities Ofsted
Continuing her look at the on-going series of Ofsted subject reports, Suzanne O’Connell finds out what inspectors had to say about religious education in the context of primary education
Image: Adobe Stock - Adobe Stock

The subject of religious education presents unique challenges, being mandatory yet also outside the national curriculum.

Many schools do choose to follow the locally agreed syllabus, but some trusts prefer to develop their own and the result can be a confusing mixture of content.

Ofsted’s report is perhaps one of the most critical subject reports yet and it raises a number of concerns about the delivery of a complex and sensitive subject.

The report calls on the government to update guidance and clarify expectations. It emphasises little improvement since the last RE subject report 10 years ago and the complex picture described then has been further complicated by the increase in multi-academy trusts, many with their own arrangements, and a subsequent lack of support and professional development opportunities.

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