Welcome to your Pearson Edexcel Religious Studies October 2026 subject update!
Hello Colleagues,
As the term picks up pace, we’re here to help you stay ahead with everything Religious Studies. This month’s update is packed with practical support and timely reminders to make your planning smoother and your teaching even more impactful.
Best wishes,
Jenna Wyatt
Religious Studies Subject Advisor
Just a reminder for A Level Religious Studies teachers to view the update we sent out to centres during the first week of September outlining the refinements to some of the anthology extracts.
Details on the amendments can be viewed through the following link:
A Level Religious Studies Update
Please note, the updated specification and anthology extracts will apply for first teaching: September 2026 (Year 12 cohort) and first assessment: Summer 2028.
You may also wish to explore our new Anthology support video and Medical Ethics teaching and learning resource to help support these changes which can be found in this update under teaching and learning resources.
Just a reminder for International GCSE Religious Studies teachers to view the update we sent out to centres in April 2025 outlining the International GCSE refinements for first teaching in September 2025.
In summary, changes include clearer mark schemes for evaluate, discuss and explain questions, a slight revision to the wording of the 10-mark 'discuss' question to clarify assessment expectations, more detailed content guidance for Paper/Unit 2, and the separation of Paper/Unit 2 into six religion-specific papers.
Further details on the refinements can be viewed through the following link:
International GCSE Religious Studies Update
Please, note that these amendments were released in March 2025 for first teaching in September 2025 and first assessment in June 2027.
GCSE Religious Studies A and B Exam Insights Summer 2026 events are now ready to book onto!
These training events are for teachers of Pearson Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies and provides feedback and insights on the summer 2026 exam series. The sessions will identify key observations related to candidate performance highlighted in the examiner report and provides strategies to help with your planning for the year ahead.
GCSE Religious Studies A: Exam Insights Summer 2026 - 12 October at 16:30 – 18:00 BST
GCSE Religious Studies B: Exam Insights Summer 2026 - 15 October at 16:30 – 18:00 BST
Book on for GCSE Religious Studies A
Book on for GCSE Religious Studies B
Please note, the A level Exam Insights session will be delivered as a pre-recording, available in the autumn term. Further details will be shared closer to the release date.
This free online training supports teachers delivering Pearson Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A or B. The session focuses on marking past examination questions, with the trainer demonstrating how to accurately apply the mark scheme and sharing practical hints and tips to support effective assessment.
You will:
• learn how to accurately apply the mark scheme
• build confidence in the marking of mock assessments
• be provided with useful hints and tips to help you to improve your marking and provide better feedback to your students.
23 November 2026 at 16:30 – 18:00 GMT
This online training is designed for teachers teaching or who are looking to teach the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Religious Studies Specification.
The focus of this training will be on planning and teaching the course, understanding the assessment and preparing students, exploring how the content is assessed by reviewing the assessment objectives and mark schemes, practise applying the mark schemes using exemplar student work, as well as an overview of the support available.
14 October 2026 at 9:00 – 12:00 BST
This online training is designed for teachers teaching the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Religious Studies.
The focus of this session will be on the assessment of the specification, exploring how assessments are structured for the qualification and how your teaching can be adapted to help your students’ performance on examination papers.
18 November 2026 at 9:00 – 12:00 GMT
We have three upcoming online events designed to provide focused subject knowledge support for the Christianity, Judaism and Islam area's of study.
To book your place and find out more please click below:
Looking for flexible ways to support teaching and revision?
Our new recorded content support resources for GCSE Religious Studies B (1RB0) provide concise explanations of key beliefs, concepts, specialist vocabulary, and sources of wisdom and authority across the specification.
Whether used in the classroom, for homework, or independent revision, these recordings complement the existing resources in our Content Support area. They're clearly organised by specification, paper, and topic, helping teachers and students access relevant content quickly and easily.
Paper 1B: Christianity – Learning and Recap Video Recordings
We're trialling this new type of free learning and revision resource and would value your feedback. We've kept the survey intentionally brief, with just two short questions and an optional comments box, so it should take less than 30 seconds to complete. Please, tell us what you think about this resource by completing the 30-second feedback survey: Feedback on New Video Resource
Following recent updates to selected anthology extracts, we are pleased to share a new support resource for Extract 4 from Religion and Ethics Paper 2 of the anthology.
Subject specialists have annotated the extract to highlight key terminology, scholarly ideas, links to specification content and opportunities for discussion. The annotations are intended as a starting point rather than a definitive commentary.
Following recent updates, including the new anthology format and selected anthology extract changes, this video walks through the anthology structure and shares practical tips to support planning and delivery.
Our GCSE exam question overviews have been updated to feature past exam questions from 2018-2026. Please note you will need your Edexcel Online log in to access them as they are secure materials.
Over the summer break we have migrated our training recordings to new Youtube playlists. Please find each playlist below:
GCSE Religious Studies A - Event Recordings
GCSE Religious Studies B - Event Recordings
A Level Religious Studies: Training Playlist
How clear is your GCSE specification about what to teach, and how deeply?
We’re redesigning how specifications are written and want to hear directly from teachers about what works and what doesn’t. The survey is short, anonymous and takes around 12 minutes — and you can take part whatever exam board you use.
JCQ have now published summer 2026 results on their website for GCSE and A level.
The results provide insights into student entries and attainment in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. JCQ has published results data for 26 years and all the data is on their website to facilitate comparisons.
For the first time JCQ has also published interactive data dashboards for A levels and GCSEs. These dashboards are being piloted with GCSE and A level data in the first instance.
The A-level NATRE Group is hosting a free online CPD session for A level Religious Studies teachers. Open to everyone, the event will bring together leading voices in Religious Studies to share practical classroom ideas and the latest subject thinking.
Thursday 15 October 2026, 6-7pm
Sessions include: Professor Lisa Bortolotti, University of Birmingham. Adaptive Teaching and A Level RE with Arabella Saunders. Using Interactive Fiction in the A-level Classroom with Ian Harris
Teachers who are not already members of the A-level NATRE Group can email k.steele@worc.ac.uk to find out more and join the network. The meeting will take place online, with joining details sent in advance.
Understanding Muslim Understanding Islam introductory CPD event
Join RE Today for a FREE practical introductory CPD session as they launch their new ‘Understanding Muslims, Understanding Islam’ CPD programme, live and in person at the iconic British Muslim Heritage centre, in Manchester. Built on authentic Muslim voices and trusted RE expertise, this is a unique opportunity to speak to the course writers, ask questions and be one of the first to sample what this amazing new resource can bring to your classroom.
Date: Monday 19 October 2026
Time: 13.30 - 16.00
Venue: British Muslim Heritage Centre, College Road, Whalley Range, Manchester, M16 8BP
FREE ECT webinar – Café NATRE – Subject Knowledge Muslim worldviews
Join RE Today's free monthly webinars, explicitly designed to support you in developing your teaching abilities providing valuable evidence to meet the ECT standards.
Date: 12 October 2026
Time: 16.00 – 17.30
Location: Online
NATRE’S Strictly RE
Early Bird ends 31 October 2026. Now in its 14th year, Strictly RE has become the must-attend event of the year for RE professionals. Join them for an unforgettable experience at the UK’s biggest RE conference, where you’ll gain valuable insights, practical strategies, and inspiration to enhance your teaching practice. Strictly RE 2027 will offer something for everyone. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your professional development, network with industry leaders, and contribute to the vibrant community of religious education enthusiasts.
Date: Saturday 30 January 2027
Time: 8.45 -16.50
Venue: Birmingham
I hope you found this update useful. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch using the contact details below. You can also sign up to get these Subject Advisor updates straight to your inbox every month.
