Tania ap Sion and Libby Jones from the St Giles’ Centre, Wrexham and Lincoln Bishop University attended the British Educational Research Association’s (BERA) conference at the University of Sussex, Brighton (9-11 September 2025), where they gave a presentation on the first findings of the national Teacher Voice Survey: Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) in the Curriculum for Wales.
This is their second international conference presentation on the Teacher Voice Survey – with the first being given at the Conference of the the International Seminar on Religious Education and Values in Riga, Latvia (28 July – 1 August).
In addition to Tania and Libby, the project team includes: Rachel Samuel (Neath Port Talbot Education Support), Paula Webber (Cardiff Metropolitan University), and Alice Parry (Llanishen High School, Cardiff).
Why is this research needed?
Until recently, statutory Religious Education in Wales largely shared the same legislative framework as Religious Education in England, although clearly differentiated Welsh and English education systems became increasingly visible across three decades when responsibilities for education and training were devolved to Wales. The latest curriculum review in Wales has seen the implementation of the radically new Curriculum for Wales in 2022 for all learners from ages three to sixteen, enabled through the passing of the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021.
Radical features of the new curriculum include: an integrated approach to learning and teaching in which Religious Education (renamed Religion, Values and Ethics) is for the first time legally embedded in the curriculum; and the principle of subsidiarity with a shift of responsibility for curriculum design, progression and assessment to individual education settings, giving teachers new professional autonomy.
At the beginning of a period of great change for religious education teachers in Wales, this research study aims to capture a ‘snapshot’ of teachers’ experience of and engagement with curriculum change through an exploratory qualitative survey of teachers across Wales. Invited participants included teachers from Nursery, Primary, Secondary, All-age School, Special, and PRU schools and settings.
What does the survey explore?
Using an inductive analytical approach , research findings will provide insight into teachers’:
- attitudes towards Religion, Values and Ethics within the Curriculum for Wales;
- approaches to curriculum design and collaborative working;
- experiences of professional agency;
- understanding of the Curriculum’s vision and values;
- confidence levels and challenges;
- hopes for the future.
Plans for the future
A full research report will be published bilingually early in the spring term 2026, and made publicly available on the St Giles’ Centre website and the Wales Association of SACRE’s website.
It is hoped that the findings will support professional dialogue and will inform professional learning at both local and national levels.