John Keast

I began my RE career as the only RE teacher in a large comprehensive school, straight out of my PGCE year. Having built up the subject to A level, and moved on to a head of department post in a large department, I eventually became LEA adviser for RE in Cornwall. The next move was to the QCA in 1996 to be manager of RE, Citizenship and PSHE. After retirement from that, I took on my current role as part-time RE consultant to the DfES. The DfES does not directly get involved in the school curriculum or its assessment (leaving that to the QCA) but it is responsible for making and implementing government policy on education. RE has historically been problematic for the DfES as legally RE is controlled by Local Authorities or faith communities, depending on the nature of the school. Nevertheless, since the advent of the National Curriculum the DfES has become more involved with RE, which it regards as important for pupils' own development as well as for community cohesion in a multi-faith society. For this reason, it commissioned the publication of the non-statutory National Framework for RE in 2004. I am sure we shall see further involvement with RE in the near future.