The face behind the STARME emails, normally seen running around the Festival of Learning making sure everything is running smoothly. This year Steph is sharing her recent research in RME and the findings from her podcast ‘What Even is RME?’. What to expect in this Session? Following a year-long research Read more
She’s back! A firm favourite on the Festival of Learning line up! Sarah Blair has delivered sessions at both the 2024 and 2025 Festivals of Learning. Sarah is also the creator of our popular RMPS in the News blog posts. We are very excited that Sarah is back sharing good Read more
Frances Hume will be leading a session at this years Festival of Learning. Frances is the National Officer for Interfaith Scotland, where she specialises in developing educational programs that foster dialogue, understanding, and cooperation across Scotland’s diverse faith communities. With extensive experience in facilitating workshops and managing volunteer networks, Frances is Read more
We are so delighted to have Orlaith Payne at the Festival of Learning this year. Orlaith is a Teaching Fellow in RME at the University of Strathclyde and supports student teachers in their placements. Orlaith is a wonderful speaker and always has a brilliant anecdote or two to share! What Read more
On February 17th, 2024, as faith communities across Scotland entered seasons of reflection—Ramadan for Muslims and Lent for Christians—the RME community reached a landmark of its own. With the passing of the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill, the landscape of our classrooms has fundamentally shifted.
For years, the “withdrawal clause” acted as a symbolic barrier, often conflating academic Religious Education with Religious Observance. By allowing students to be opt-out of the subject, the system inadvertently framed RME as a confessional activity rather than an academic discipline.
The Turning Point
That era has ended. As stated on the Scottish Government website:
“It is no longer possible to withdraw from RME.” (Scottish Government, 2026)
This change is not just a policy update; it is a validation of RME’s legitimacy. We are moving away from the precarious positioning of the 1960s and the “conscience-based” absences of the 1980s toward a pluralistic, robust curriculum that reflects modern Scotland.
Looking Ahead
Following in the footsteps of Wales, Scotland is now tasked with ensuring our curriculum is fit for a nation where traditional religious identification is evolving. As we enter this “Curriculum Improvement Cycle,” one thing is clear: RME is no longer an optional extra. It is a necessary, academic, and vital tool for understanding the complex world our learners inhabit.
We are pleased to announce our next Digital Speed Meet, continuing our series of short, high-impact sessions designed for the busy educator. This 30-minute online event focuses on providing practical, ready-to-use resources that can be implemented in the classroom immediately. Featured Guest: Elaine Tait (Scripture Union Scotland) For this session, Read more
Critical Deadline: Stage 1 Debate is November 25th! The Stage 1 debate on the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill is scheduled for Tuesday, November 25, 2025. This means we have a matter of days, to ensure the professional voice of Religious and Read more
November is a CLPL Bumper Month! We have 3 wonderful professional learning opportunities for our STARME members. You can sign up to attend them at the links below. If you are not yet a member of STARME it’s free to join here – Membership. We have a whole host of Read more
Join us for a special online speed meet session led by the fantastic Sarah Blair, a presenter at the 2024 and 2025 Starme Festival of Learning! Sarah will be leading a half-hour session on Monday, October 6th at 4pm to help us make RME more relevant and engaging in the Read more
Following from her session at the Festival of Learning, Fiona Moss, Culham St Gabriels, will be sharing more about Religion and World View approach to RME. This will be an interesting session to consider and understand expecially in a time of curriculum change.