The Bexley Agreed Syllabus Conference (ASC) met on 7 January 2026 to discuss and review the draft Bexley Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. The conference agreed to proceed with a revised syllabus, incorporating feedback from teachers and addressing concerns about the representation of non-religious views and the teaching of religious conflict. A further meeting is scheduled for 11 March 2026 to formally agree the final syllabus before it is sent to the cabinet member for signing off.

Review of the Bexley Agreed Syllabus

The conference focused on the proposed revisions to the Bexley Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (RE), which is set to be implemented for the academic years 2026-2031. Rizwana Rehman, the RE advisor for Bexley Council, presented the proposed changes, noting that the current syllabus had eight units which teachers felt was too many, leading to a rushed delivery of content. The revised syllabus aims to address this by streamlining the content.

Anna Stone, representing Humanism, raised concerns that non-religious viewpoints were not sufficiently represented throughout the syllabus. She explained that humanism, while newly recognised within RE, offers a comprehensive perspective on life without religion. Ms. Rehman acknowledged this challenge, particularly in early years RE, but noted that statutory requirements necessitate the teaching of specific religions, such as Christianity. She added that non-religious views are incorporated in Key Stages 5 and 6.

Councillor Andy Dourmoush sought clarification on what specific content would be covered under no religion or faith, to which Ms. Stone elaborated on the principles of humanism. Alison Healy suggested that non-religious views were already represented within the syllabus.

Councillor Rags Sandhu inquired about the location of a proposed conference, suggesting a local place of worship as an alternative to the Civic Offices. Joan Woodham, from Bexley Council, noted that the Civic Offices are typically used due to their central accessibility.

Dr. Julie Bowen asked for clarification on how the current syllabus and the new package from RE Today would be combined. Ms. Rehman explained that the existing syllabus was already based on a package from RE Today and the current review was an amendment to improve it for the next five years.

Councillor Howard Jackson expressed his continued support for Bexley Council to develop its own RE syllabus, as agreed previously. He supported the proposed modest changes and requested to see Special Educational Needs (SEN) versions of the syllabus at a future meeting, which was agreed by officers.

Councillor Philip Read highlighted the importance of teaching about religious conflict and its underlying reasons, especially in light of global events. Ms. Rehman confirmed that the syllabus includes a unit in Year 9 that questions whether religion is a power for peace, and that this could be explored across several units. She stressed the need for further teacher training and support to facilitate these sensitive discussions safely. Councillor Read also suggested that intolerance and its consequences should be a continuous theme throughout the syllabus, a point echoed by Vicky Hart. Jenny Kaur added that RE education inherently promotes tolerance.

Councillor Sandhu suggested that the sacrifices made by the Gurus should be included in the section on Sikhism, as it is a significant aspect of the religion. He also proposed a different approach to addressing racism, stating that no religion advocates violence.

Councillor Bola Carew, the Chair, inquired about the frequency of RE teacher training. Ms. Woodham explained that while national specialist training is limited, the primary network offers its own training. She added that teachers would be consulted on their training needs following the new syllabus. Jenny Kaur requested further support and training for all teachers, and welcomed faith representatives to engage with children and teachers.

Krishna Vekriya expressed gratitude for the inclusion of Hinduism in the syllabus and requested that Hindu Scriptures and Places of Worship be added to the Key Stage 1 content for Hinduism.

Any Other Business

There were no items of late business or other business raised during the meeting.

Date of Next Meeting

The conference agreed that Ms. Rehman and Ms. Woodham would take forward the discussions from the meeting. A further meeting of the ASC was scheduled for Wednesday, 11 March 2026, following the SACRE meeting. This meeting will allow all members to review the final agreed syllabus for 2026-2031 and formally agree it before submission to the cabinet member.