RE Conference 2026: Celebrating Stories
The Education Team recently welcomed more than 30 Diocesan RE Subject Leaders to Jubilee House in Southwell for the 2026 Religious Education Conference, themed “Celebrating Stories.” The conference provided a valuable opportunity for delegates to network, reflect and collaborate, while celebrating and sharing best practice in Religious Education.
The conference was facilitated by Gillian Georgiou, RE Adviser for the Diocese of Lincoln, who guided delegates through key developments shaping the national RE landscape. These included the Francis Review, the Church of England Statement of Entitlement for Religious Education, and the recently published Ofsted report on RE.
As part of the conference, delegates visited Southwell Minster to reflect on the importance of stories and context, with a particular focus on the Christian faith. Diana Ives, Head of Education at Southwell Minster, led a practical and engaging session exploring the use of religious artefacts and symbols, considering their meaning and significance in communicating faith and belief.
Practical sessions were also delivered by RE Leads Rebecca Asquith, Andrea Burrows, Kate Charlesworth and Louisa Newton, Diocesan Ethos, RE and SIAMS Lead. These sessions focused on the role of local, national and global stories in Religious Education, exploring ways to develop a more diverse and engaging curriculum through a Religion and Worldviews approach.
Delegates explored a range of case studies written by RE leads from across the Diocese. These resources are already being used in schools to enhance RE provision and support a critical, pluralistic and objective approach to the subject. The RE Working Party were pleased to share that the case studies will also form part of the supporting resources for the new locally agreed syllabus, which will be launched later this year.
Louisa Newton, Diocesan Ethos, RE and SIAMS Lead, said:
“It was wonderful to bring together RE leaders from across the Diocese to reflect on the power of stories within Religious Education. Stories help pupils engage with lived experiences of faith and belief, enabling them to develop deeper understanding and curiosity about the world around them. As we prepare for the launch of the new locally agreed syllabus, we are excited to continue supporting schools in delivering rich, thoughtful and engaging RE that reflects the diverse religious and worldviews landscape of our society.”