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TRC welcomes draft for new RE Curriculum

The Transferor Representatives’ Council (TRC), has welcomed the publication today of a new Religious Education (RE) draft curriculum for public consultation.

Classroom 1

Speaking on behalf of the TRC, which represents the interests of the Church of Ireland, Methodist Church in Ireland and the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in education issues in Northern Ireland, its chair, Bishop Andrew Forster, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, encouraged all those with an interest in this important subject, especially Christian teachers, governors, parents, and students, to consider taking part in the public consultation on the new draft RE curriculum.

The Transferor Representatives’ Council

Speaking about the draft curriculum's publication, Bishop Andrew said,

“As Christianity is the faith identity of almost 80% of the population in Northern Ireland, we welcome the fact that it remains a core focus of RE at every key stage. Religious Education, as taught through this new curriculum will be, we believe, in the words of the UK Supreme Court’s JR87 judgement last year, ‘objective, critical and pluralistic’ as it is underpinned by a clear educational rationale, which will add to the academic rigour of the subject as a key component of the statutory curriculum.

“As we have said, in previous statements, the teaching of RE is a vital component of the primary curriculum in Northern Ireland, as it gives children an opportunity to explore and consider life’s big questions within the Christian ethos of our schools, in preparation for life outside the classroom.

“At the same time, it affords the opportunity to learn about other world religions, while also exploring the fact that some in society do not have religious worldviews. We believe that the new curriculum will enable students to engage critically with their own and other’s beliefs, and with this appreciation, it will better prepare them for respectful participation in a world that is increasingly diverse.

Department of Education public consultation

The Department of Education's public consultation on a new Religious Education syllabus for Northern Ireland can be found here on the Department's website. 

The consultation will run until 30 September 2026, with responses invited from teachers, parents, pupils, faith communities and stakeholders across Northern Ireland.

Bishop Andrew concluded by saying,

“We would also like to commend the Minister for Education, and the work of the drafting group in preparing this new curriculum, which has been done to a very tight timeline at a time of year when teachers are extremely busy.

“We are also very glad to have had the opportunity to appoint educational professionals from each of our churches to work alongside other experts appointed by the Roman Catholic Church in a consultative capacity. This was important, as it was an opportunity to contribute to, and advise on, the drafts of the new curriculum.”

The Transferor Representatives’ Council
The TRC represents the interests of the Church of Ireland, Methodist Church in Ireland and the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in education issues in Northern Ireland and advocates on behalf of the three churches.

Controlled schools are ‘church-related schools’ owing to the fact that in the last 1920s until the late 1940s the three churches transferred their school buildings, pupils and staff into state control (hence the terms ‘transferor’ and ‘controlled’) on the understanding that the Christian ethos of these schools would be maintained in perpetuity. Between 1926 and 1947, the churches transferred approximately 500 schools to the government of Northern Ireland.

During the transfer process at the time, the church leaders stressed that it was not simply buildings, which were being transferred, but pupils, and a concept of education directly informed and shaped by a Christian ethos. In return for transferring their schools into state control, the transferor churches were accorded statutory rights of representation on Boards of Governors.

The TRC overseas the appointment of over 1,500 governors to serve on the boards of controlled schools in Northern Ireland, who are known as ‘transferor governors’. It also works closely with statutory bodies and nominates four members to Education Authority.

For more information on the Transferor Representative Council, this link will take you to the TRC website.

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