12 Days of a Culham St Gabriel’s Christmas!

As the year draws to a close, we’ve been taking a moment to look back on what has been a very full and rewarding year at Culham St Gabriel’s. Over the past twelve months, we’ve welcomed new colleagues, supported research and professional development, funded innovative projects, and created spaces for conversation, collaboration and learning across our community. Our 12 Days of Christmas is a way of sharing some of those highlights and of saying thank you to the many people, partners and communities who have made this work possible. It’s been a busy year, a challenging one at times, and a genuinely positive one to reflect on.

Day 1 of a Culham St Gabriel’s Christmas: One new team member

In August, we were delighted to welcome Jack Barton as our new Digital Operations Manager. Since joining us, Jack has brought energy, proactivity and a calm, thoughtful approach to all things digital. He’s already making a real difference behind the scenes, helping us strengthen our systems and think creatively about how we work and connect. It’s been brilliant to have Jack with us, and we’re very excited to see what the future holds!

Find out more about Jack, and the rest of our team, here.

Day 2 of a Culham St Gabriel’s Christmas: Two Curriculum and Assessment Review updates

The publication of the interim and final reports of the Curriculum and Assessment Review represents an important and hopeful moment for Religious Education in England. The final report’s recommendation to embed RE within a new national curriculum signals a clear commitment to greater coherence, equity and educational quality. Culham St Gabriel’s welcomed this. A national framework offers a constructive way forward. It creates the conditions for shared standards, stronger provision and a curriculum grounded in a contemporary religion and worldviews approach. Building on the National Content Standard for RE, this moment offers a real opportunity to strengthen RE so that every young person can access high-quality, meaningful learning. At a time when our society is increasingly complex, Religious Education is more important than ever. It helps young people understand the religious and non-religious worldviews that shape public life, relationships and global events, and equips them to navigate difference with knowledge, care and critical insight. Find out more.

Day 3 of a Culham St Gabriel’s Christmas: Three Community of Practice meetings

This year, our Masters Scholarship Programme cohort has met three times as a virtual community of practice, creating space to share research, reflect on learning and explore how masters-level study is shaping professional practice. These meetings offer an important opportunity for thoughtful discussion, peer support and the sharing of ideas. The Culham St Gabriel’s Masters Scholarship Programme supports teachers and others working in RE, RVE and RME to undertake relevant masters-level study with financial support. Looking for funding for your studies? Applications for the next cohort open in the new year, with a deadline of 23 January 2026. Find out more.    

Day 4 of a Culham St Gabriel’s Christmas: Four podcast guest appearances

Over the past year, members of the Culham St Gabriel’s team have been invited as guests on a range of podcasts, sharing ideas, research and practical insight with wider education and RE audiences. Fiona Moss, our Education and Programmes Manager, and Josh Cass, our Lead Consultant for Advocacy, both appeared on the RE Podcast. Fiona explored barriers to engaging in research and reflected on the Culham St Gabriel’s Leadership Scholarship Programme, while Josh discussed Freedom of Religion or Belief and its significance within education and public life. Fiona also joined the What Even is RME? podcast to unpack what a religion and worldviews approach looks like in real classrooms, sharing practical ideas for primary and secondary practice and highlighting how scholarship funding can support professional development. Kathryn Wright, our CEO, will be appearing on the Flourishing Together podcast, hosted by the Diocese of St Albans Schools Team, continuing conversations about education, values and flourishing.    

Day 5 of a Culham St Gabriel’s Christmas: Five Focus Weeks

Throughout the year, our Focus Weeks have provided space to explore key themes in the world of RE. Each week brought together short films, blogs, research and classroom resources, alongside In Conversation events that invited dialogue and reflection. Our Curriculum and Assessment Review Focus Week examined the government’s review of the school curriculum in England, asking what it might mean for Religious Education and whether RE should become part of a new national curriculum. In our second Focus Week, we explored the role of oracy in RE, RVE and RME, considering how structured talk supports learning, understanding and engagement. A Primary RE Focus Week, delivered in partnership with NATRE, asked how primary RE can provide a meaningful window on the world for pupils. Our Grants Focus Week, From Communities to Classrooms, highlighted learning from grant-funded projects and their impact in practice. In November, we held Inter Faith Focus Week: Connecting Through Dialogue, which ran alongside Inter Faith Week. This focus week explored how dialogue across difference can deepen understanding and strengthen community connections.