Religion, Values and Ethics and Religious Studies in Wales: Building Confident Educators for the New GCSE
23 September, 2025, Dr Gareth Evan-Jones
A National Collaboration for Success by the National Centre of Religious Education for Wales
One of the most exciting challenges in Welsh education right now is making sure every learner has access to high-quality teaching in Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) and Religious Studies (RS), no matter what background their teacher comes from.
That’s why I’m delighted to be leading a new project from the National Centre of Religious Education for Wales (NCREW), working in partnership with Philosophy, Ethics & Religion at Bangor University, and with generous support from Culham St Gabriel’s. The project, called ‘GCSE RS Success: Enhancing Teachers’ RS Specialism in Wales’, is all about building confident, knowledgeable, and creative educators.
Across Wales, many teachers are being asked to deliver GCSE RS without having studied religious studies, theology, philosophy, or ethics themselves. With the new WJEC GCSE RS specification beginning in autumn 2025 – bringing fresh assessment structures and deeper thematic content – the need for specialist support has never been greater.
Our aim with this project is simple: to provide a supportive, subject-rich professional development programme that helps teachers with specialisms in other areas teach RS with confidence and clarity. By bridging the gap between curriculum expectations and classroom delivery, we want learners across Wales to thrive in their understanding of religion, ethics, values, and worldviews.
The course is also designed to live out the values of the Curriculum for Wales itself, encouraging ethical, informed citizenship and learning that connects to real-world issues. We want to show that RS and RVE are not marginal subjects, but vital areas that develop empathy, critical thinking and global understanding.
Our hopes are ambitious but grounded. We want to build a sustainable network of skilled, confident GCSE RS educators who can take ownership of their teaching and inspire learners. Our vision is for a ripple effect; where empowered teachers go on to support colleagues in their schools and regions, and where Religious Studies (and by extension, RVE) is no longer seen as a ‘gap-fill’ subject, but as an enriching, vital part of the curriculum and a significant area of study for our times.
Who’s taking part?
The response we received was truly inspiring. We had so many thoughtful and creative applications, and we were delighted to accept a cohort of passionate, forward-thinking teachers from across Wales. Their commitment to professional learning development and enthusiasm for RS and RVE really stood out.
Each teacher has been paired with an experienced mentor, and together they form a vibrant and supportive learning community. Throughout the year, they’ll be working with academic specialists, practising teachers, and representatives from religious and cultural communities, bringing together a rich blend of expertise and perspectives.
Beyond the classroom
This project isn’t just about supporting teachers, it’s part of a much wider conversation. It speaks to issues of teacher agency, subject equity and curriculum reform, while also addressing national concerns about teacher supply in the humanities.
RS and RVE matter because they are where some of life’s biggest questions are explored – questions of identity, belief, diversity, and freedom. At a time when our society is grappling with these very issues, I believe it’s vital that teachers feel equipped to guide their learners with both confidence and compassion.
That’s why participants in the project will be engaging in:
- Online professional learning workshops
- Subject knowledge enhancement sessions
- Assessment deep-dives
- Pedagogical forums exploring religion and worldviews in Wales today
- Access to an online repository of resources
Looking ahead
If you’re a teacher interested in RS, or part of a school looking to strengthen your RVE and/or RS provision, we’d love to connect with you. This project is more than just professional development, it is a support network for educators who care deeply about values, understanding, and the futures of young people.
The new GCSE specification will bring its challenges, but it also brings huge opportunities. Together, we can make sure that every teacher feels confident stepping into the classroom, and every learner has access to the very best RS education.
And we’re just getting started.
Find out more:
Email: ncrew@bangor.ac.uk
Instagram: @ncrewales & @philosophybangor
Facebook: NCREW & Philosophy, Ethics & Religion, and Politics, Bangor