We are delighted to announce that our next annual conference will be held at Eton College on Thursday 23rd April 2026. More details to follow soon!
Annual Conference 2025
Essay Competition
Announcing our Theology, Philosophy and Religion Essay Competition 2025. The competition was sponsored by ISEB and Academy Conferences.
Proposed Statutory Guidance for RE
The ISRSA has recently published this document, suggesting a pathway to ensuring academically rigorous and pedagogically realistic RE teaching that focuses on intellectual integrity and the core disciplines of theology, philosophy, and the study of religion. It intends to offer a clear, coherent framework that supports teachers and is inspectable by Ofsted, as well as being aligned with the intellectual continuity expected by higher education. We propose this document as a constructive alternative to the ‘National Content Standard’ published in July 2023, and are pleased that it will form a part of the conversation of the Independent Curriculum and Assessment Review being led by Professor Becky Francis CBE. Thank you to all those who contributed to this work, and we hope that you find this document useful as we continue in our goal of supporting teachers to provide high-quality Religious Education.
About ISRSA
The ISRSA affirms that Religious Studies, Theology and Philosophy are academically rigorous subjects of vital relevance with a challenging and timeless voice.
We exist to support RS teachers in British independent schools, to provide networking and training opportunities.
We are also the voice for our teachers. We vigorously defend the value of our subject and present our views to educational decision makers.
We carry out cutting-edge research into our subject.
We hold a a national annual conference and other smaller regional conferences.
We are always keen to welcome new members to our organisation or our Council. Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like to join.
Our patrons are:
Liam Gearon, Associate Professor in Religious Education at Oxford University,
The Ian Ramsey Centre University of Oxford,
Tom Greggs, Professor of Divinity at Aberdeen University and co-founder of the Aberdeen Centre for Protestant Theology
Professor David Aldridge, Head of Secondary and Further Education at Edge Hill University.
Latest News
New article from Cecilia Bidie
Ceclia Bidie is Head of Theology, Philosophy and Religion at Wetherby Prep School. She is also a member of the ISRSA Council. She has an article on the importance of Religious Studies published in the most recent issue of Prep School Magazine. You can read the article...
Keep up to date with the attempt to change RS to R&W
Professor Philip Barnes (Kings College, London) here responds to a recent article by Trevor Cooling and Bob Bowie in which they claim that Christian Theology (alongside 24 other ‘worldviews' listed by CoRE) can become a conversation partner with a ‘worldviews’...
Public statement
The publication of our report 'Religion and Worldviews (Weltanschauung)' provoked a great deal of debate, including, from some quarters, demands that it should be withdrawn. We are issuing this public statement in response to these demands. Read the statement