Our hope, for all in our family of church schools, is that Religious Education is a valued academic subject. The principal aim for RE in Gloucestershire is for pupils to understand how worldviews influence people’s lives, including their own, through the study of religious and non-religious worldviews, so that they better understand themselves and the world around them, becoming better equipped to contribute to and flourish in society.
The syllabus for Religious Education is determined locally by SACREs (Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education). Details for the South Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus can be found here.
The Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus for 2025-2030 is being rolled out gradually over the 2025-2026 academic year. It will become statutory in September 2026. For further information, please contact Debbie Helme .
In addition, all schools will be able to use the resource Understanding Christianity.
Religious Education plays a vital role in church schools, the expectations and standards required for the subject are clarified in the Church of England’s
RE Statement of Entitlement for Church Schools.
This is inspected under SIAMS Framework 2024+(1) (pages 12 & 13)
There are many ways the education team at the Diocese aim to support schools with these high expectations and aspirations. We train and resource RE Leading Teachers, who contribute to online support sessions.
During 2025-2026, we are offering termly online support sessions to help schools adapt to the new syllabus- details here.
We offer a range of bespoke and central training for RE. Please read the Diocesan Education Newsletter – DEN for regular RE updates.
If you have any specific questions around RE provision, please contact Debbie Helme.
Online RE Support Meetings
For RE subject leaders, RE teachers. During this academic year the new Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus for RE is being rolled out. These online meetings will support subject leaders and class teachers as they begin to use the new religion and worldwide approach. Cost per school for access to all 6 sessions: £50.00 – if you join the online meeting on the day, your school will be charged and you can access the following meetings. Please book to be sent post-course information.
Monday 6 October 2025 4.00pm-5.00pm
Microsoft Teams Need help?
Meeting ID: 388 856 091 033 0
Passcode: xf6HD6ju
If you want to join the meeting through your internet browser, here’s how: https://youtu.be/lNtUwUhJGCo?si=MEcBzgwHJl355zGg
Monday 10 November 2025 4.00pm-5.00pm
Monday 2 February 2026 4.00pm-5.00pm
Monday 9 March 2026 4.00pm-5.00pm
Monday 18 May 2026 4.00pm-5.00pm
Monday 29 June 2026 4.00pm-5.00pm
Bespoke In-School RE MOTs
RE MOTs are an exploration and discussion of RE within the school and include discussion, identifying gaps and suggesting ideas for improvement. It will provide an opportunity to talk through the relevant questions from the 2023 SIAMS framework and support the school in identifying next steps.
The education team work hard with partner organisations to provide a range of supporting opportunities and initiatives for RE. These include liaising with members of other faith communities to support school trips, visits and visitors.
REaction Award
This is a competition run by SACRE – further details to follow
RE Opportunities at Viney Hill
Viney Hill is a Christian Adventure Centre and they have worked in collaboration with the education team to create special activity trails which link to RE units as well as the popular ‘Experience Christmas Adventure’ trail which included using tunnelling to consider the concept of incarnation and using bush craft and low ropes to make sense of the text in the Christmas story. To find out more, book dates or discover what they can offer for bespoke RE Curriculum days, please contact Viney Hill Adventures.
