I presume “RE” stands for Religious Education. That was never clearly defined in the article.

An American, I plead confusion and ignorance here. In the UK, what is the difference between secular government-funded schools, “faith schools,” and “academies”? Do UK taxpayers - regardless of their religious affiliations or lack of same - now involuntarily underwrite all of these schools to the same degree?

They’re all government (taxpayer) funded, except for independent schools and (confusingly for Americans) “public schools”  like Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Winchester etc - which are NOT for the public and cost c. $45,000 p.a. to attend.
No state funded schol in the UK is technically “secular”. Just about all are supposed to teach Christianity and provide Christian worship, unless they are Jewish or Muslim. “Faith schools” are mainly Roman Catholic or Church of England, they are state-funded but have church-appointed governors and the senior management are supposed to be communicant Anglicans or Catholics (‘a custom [sometimes] more honored in the breach..’). ‘Academies’ are a little like charter schools - they are funded directly from central governments without local authority control and can set their own rules for salary and hiring and firing. Some Christian businessmen have set up Christian academies in run-down areas with great success.

Many thanks, kmh1!