About Religious Education Network

Welcome to the Religious Education Network

The Religious Education Network is committed to providing high-quality Religious Education in the UK. We include Faith leaders, theologians, independent organisations, teacher trainers, teachers, members of Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education and school governors, drawn from both the maintained and the independent sectors.

Our aims in coming together are:

To maintain the place of religion, and religions, at the heart of Religious Education
To support the current legal status of the subject named ‘Religious Education’
To promote National Standards for the effective provision of Religious Education
To identify, explore and share examples of excellent provision in schools and colleges
To support the processes which ensure local determination for any RE syllabus
To provide a forum that links providers, organisations and individuals who share these aims

At a time when there is much public debate about the place and importance of religion and spirituality in society, and in the world as a whole, we believe an exciting and well-grounded religious education is vital for our children’s and young people’s spiritual and social well-being, with religions themselves at the heart of this.

Our principal purpose is to share good practice in accordance with our stated aims, so that RE providers can benefit by learning from each other, and to represent Religious Education with decision-makers at all levels.

The Acting Committee

Richard Coupe

Co-ordinator of the REN

Richard worked at all levels in state and independent schools, co-founded the ISRSA and has contributed to QCA, to examination boards and to DfE consultation, as well as running and addressing conferences, publishing articles and training teachers in-school.

Steve Beegoo

Steve is a former school principal and primary school teacher, having nearly 30 years’ experience of teaching RE. He is Head of Education for Christian Concern, CEO of the Christian Schools’ Trust and Vice Chairman of the Christian Coalition for Education. He is a SACRE member, schools advisor, and supports school staff in education issues nationally and internationally.

Seeta Lakhani

Seeta is an author and educator who continues her father Jay Lakhani’s work through the Hindu Academy, providing all sorts of resources for promoting education in Hinduism.

Guy Hordern MBE

Guy is a member of the General Synod of the Church of England and has been a member of Birmingham City Council Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education since 1977.

Julie Arliss

Julie is a highly-accomplished teacher and author, an international educator of gifted students, providing world-class extension activities for students, through her Academy Learning work.

Dr Marius Felderhof

Marius is Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Department of Theology and Religion, the University of Birmingham; he has contributed widely to religious education in books, articles and in training teachers, and to inter-faith work.

Lizzie Harewood

Lizzie, the Executive Officer of the Association of Christian Teachers, has nearly 12 years of experience as a Secondary English Teacher. She is a member of the Christian Coalition for Education and has served as a consultant for BBC Bitesize, focusing on Religious Education online content. In addition to her professional commitments, she provides crucial support to her husband’s church ministry in the north of England.

Ron Skelton

Ron has been Headmaster of The Broadway Academy, Birmingham, since 2008. He is a Local Leader of Education and former chairman of Titan Trust. He is a member of Birmingham SACRE and of the Headteachers West Midlands Ofsted Reference group. He is the current Chair of the West Midlands Police Advisory Board. He has spoken at conferences on the subjects of leadership, inter- faith, community partnerships, school ethos, and ‘British Values.’

Cristo Rodriguez

Cristo has a background in MFL and RE teaching and has been involved in education for around 20 years in one form or another. Having worked in schools abroad with the British Council he worked in Alternative Provision, Youth Work and the voluntary sector as well as being Managing Director of a Christian Education Charity and recently a Chaplain. He currently works as a subject leader in Religious Education and will also be working with the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics to develop schools conferences and events. Cristo has been awarded a Farmington Scholarship 2024/25 at Harris Manchester College University of Oxford. Cristo is also a trustee of the Association of Christian Teachers (ACT) and a member of the Christian Coalition for Education. He is taking the lead in developing a new Theology, Philosophy and Ethics syllabus for the REN.