Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the command paper, Protecting What Matters, CP 1540, 9 March 2026, page 24, and the plans to include Religious Education in the National Curriculum, what is her definition of the sector and who will determine if there is a consensus.

In this context, the ‘sector’ refers to a broad range of relevant voices and views from faith and secular representatives. The sector-led Task and Finish Group was established independently of the government, and its membership, governance and working arrangements were matters for the Group itself.

Any consensus reached would therefore be sector‑led and informed by wide engagement across faith and secular stakeholders. As previously set out, if the Group reaches consensus on a draft religious education curriculum, the government would consult on whether to add it to the national curriculum.