Welcome to the Centre of Religious Education for Wales' page, which is a new and dynamic centre with the aim of working to ensure that Religious Education in its broadest sense, with regards to studying various religions, philosophies, ethics, values and worldviews, is safeguarded.
We live in a society with a wide diversity of beliefs, religions, opinions, ethical views, philosophies and cultures, and so, Religious Education is such a relevant subject. It also overlaps with many subjects including history, geography, politics, sociology, science, Welsh and English.
At the core of the Centre is the aim to promote education, encourage respect for different worldviews and traditions, and do what is needed to try and ensure that we live in an inclusive society.
Aims and Goals
The aim of the National Centre of Religious Education in Wales (NCREW) is to promote the study, knowledge and awareness of the variety of religious, values and philosophical traditions that exist in Wales and the wider world. We aim to enhance the education provision in primary schools, high schools and further education institutions in the field of religion, values, ethics and philosophy, in addition to bridge the link with higher education. As such, we will aim to work closely with Religious Studies and Philosophy, and Humanities teachers, in addition to primary school teachers, to develop a rigorous, engaging and beneficial education provision, and complement the learning experience of young people through Wales.
We will work closely with other establishments and bodies, locally, nationally, and beyond, including faith and youth communities, SACRE groups, and RE Hubs UK, to enhance provision and develop understandings of different religion, values, ethics and philosophy traditions.
The NCREW aims to offer as wide an approach as possible, therefore, the more widespread religious traditions will be engaged with, but we will also engage with religious traditions beyond the six world religions that have traditionally been the focus of Religious Education in Wales (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism), and other schools of thought, due to their very existence being significant and telling of the diverse and ever evolving cultural breadth of Wales.
Principles of the Centre
The NCREW is predicated on certain principles that will be at the heart of its function and engagement:
- Intellectual curiosity: the NCREW is predicated on the importance of education and the invaluable gift of knowledge, and as such, an intellectual curiosity to learn, understand and engage more with various traditions that illuminate our society is needed.
- Inclusivity: the NCREW is open to all religious traditions, in addition to people who do not profess a particular religion, or who do not conform to such labelling. The Centre also aims to work with and include as wide a variety of people from all over Wales, and will strive to include under-represented members of society, including the LGBTQ+ community, BAME community, people who are disabled, people from low income backgrounds.
- Respect: at the heart of the NCREW ethos is respect. We emphasise the importance and need to show respect for every member in society and for the variety of beliefs and views people adhere to.
- Appreciation: the NCREW believes that everyone who engages with it holds a level of tolerance for different views and beliefs, and an appreciation of such diversity, as long as they do not conflict with respect and compassion towards one another.
- Awareness: the NCREW states that awareness of varying views, beliefs and opinions is key in order to best engage with the people of Wales and ensure that the Centre is culturally aware of current developments and evolutions.
- Equality: The NCREW holds that equality is key for its organisation and engagement with others. There are co-directors and board members, but equality and respect will be shown to one another throughout, as will be demonstrated when engaging with schools and society, locally, nationally and internationally.
Meet the Team
Introduction
The National Centre of Religious Education for Wales has a dynamic operating board, with enthusiastic and extremely active individuals. Here are the core members:
- Dr Joshua Andrews: Co-director of the Centre who specialises in leading English-medium matters.
- Dr Gareth Evans-Jones: Co-director of the Centre who specialises in leading Welsh-medium matters.
- Professor Lucy Huskinson: Financial matters co-ordinator and grants lead.
- Ms Modlen Lynch: Teaching Advisor.
- Mrs Mefys Edwards: Teaching Advisor.
- Mr Daniel Latham: Advisor for Faith Schools.
- Ms Tasha Roberts: Advisor for Primary Schools.
- Ms Emilia Johnson: Advisor for Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs).
- Ms Hanan Issa: The Centre's first Honorary Fellow (2023-2025).
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