--- title: "MPs and peers hear from experts on for what’s next for religion in schools" date: "2026-09-18T12:11:55+01:00" modified: "2026-09-18T13:04:52+01:00" url: "https://humanists.uk/2026/09/18/mps-and-peers-hear-from-experts-on-for-whats-next-for-religion-in-schools/" post_id: 198342 categories: ["Education", "News"] --- # MPs and peers hear from experts on for what’s next for religion in schools ![](https://i0.wp.com/humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/1000084085.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&ssl=1)From left to right: Professor Ted Cantle, Lizzi Collinge MP, Deborah Weston OBE, Andrew Copson OBE, and Dr Lewis Young.This week MPs and peers in the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group met to discuss what is next for religion in schools following recent developments including the passing of the [Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act](https://humanists.uk/2026/04/29/new-powers-to-close-illegal-schools-as-childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill-set-to-become-law/), the Curriculum and Assessment Review, and the landmark [Supreme Court *JR87*](https://humanists.uk/2025/11/19/supreme-court-rules-exclusively-christian-re-in-ni-is-indoctrination/) ruling. #### **Faith schools, Religious Education, and unfinished reform** The APPHG heard from **Professor Ted Cantle**, an expert on community cohesion and adviser to Belong, the cohesion and integration network. Professor Cantle raised stark concerns about the impact of selective faith school admissions has on dividing pupils across religious, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds, and emphasised that the lack of mixing between different groups reduces mutual understanding and harms cohesion. He called on the Government to act to reduce the impact of faith school selection and stated that while schools have a duty to encourage cohesion, it is no longer inspected. He ended by calling for Ofsted to [reinstate its inspection](https://humanists.uk/2025/05/06/humanists-uk-tells-ofsted-grade-schools-on-community-cohesion/) of community cohesion in schools. **Deborah Weston OBE**, a lead drafter of the Religious Education Task and Finish Group, and former Company Secretary of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales, spoke next. She outlined that the recent [Curriculum and Assessment Review](https://humanists.uk/2025/11/05/success-re-to-be-added-to-the-national-curriculum/) recommended bringing Religious Education into the National Curriculum and making it inclusive of humanism, and said a consultation on content is due shortly. She argued that every young person needs rigorous, broad, and deep RE, inclusive of non-religious worldviews such as humanism, to understand the society and the world they live in. Finally, Humanists UK’s **Dr Lewis Young** spoke of the positive progress of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act around tackling illegal faith schools, which saw, after years of Humanists UK campaigning on the matter, Ofsted’s powers strengthened to investigate suspected settings, and tightened regulations of settings. However, Dr Young warned parliamentarians that the work is not yet finished and that a [consultation is forthcoming on standards for different types of settings](https://humanists.uk/2026/01/29/childrens-wellbeing-bill-peers-warn-against-carve-outs-for-religious-only-education-settings/). Lewis also raised that the Schools Act created a loophole that allows new [100% religiously selective schools to open](https://humanists.uk/2024/12/20/humanists-uk-express-concern-about-plans-to-permit-new-100-religiously-selective-schools/). He said that Humanists UK will respond to the yet-to-be opened consultation on the School Admissions Code to press for this loophole to close. Finally, Lewis also covered the impact of the Supreme Court ruling *JR87* on collective worship in schools. He said that in response to the ruling the Government has announced a [change of guidance](https://humanists.uk/2026/02/05/changes-to-guidance-wont-make-compulsory-christian-worship-inclusive/), and called for the Government to go further to replace collective worship with inclusive assemblies. #### **APPHG officers elected for the next year** Prior to the meeting, the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group held its AGM and re-elected **Lizzi Collinge MP** as Chair; **Siân Berry MP** and **Christine Jardine MP** were re-elected as Vice Chairs, and **Dr Kieran Mullan MP** was elected Secretary of the Group. The All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group is a cross-party group of Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords of all the main parties. The Group is not part of Humanists UK, but Humanists UK provides the secretariat. #### Notes For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Head of Press and Campaign Communications Nathan Stilwell at or phone 0203 675 0959 (media only). Read more about the [All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group](https://humanists.uk/about/humanists-in-parliament/). Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.