RE

Locally agreed syllabus and collective worship guidelines

What is a locally agreed syllabus?

An agreed syllabus specifies what must be taught in religious education within an authority. It should be reviewed every five years. The SACRE elects a group called an agreed syllabus conference to review the syllabus.  Once agreed, all schools are required to teach in accordance with the syllabus, with the exception of voluntary aided schools, academies and those with a trust deed which specifies otherwise.

How much time is given at each key stage for religious education?

• Schools must allocate sufficient time and resources to ensure that the expectations of the agreed syllabus can be met and that children are given experiences that are coherent and meaningful.
• Schools must ensure that teachers of religious education are enabled to teach the requirements of the agreed syllabus. This will have implications for their professional development.
• Schools must allocate sufficient resources for pupils to be fully engaged in their learning and reach the highest possible standards in religious education.
• It is expected that during all key stages, a secular world view will be taught as appropriate through the RE curriculum through thematic teaching. Where there are other religious communities with a significant local presence, pupils may study aspects of these communities.
• The requirements of the syllabus cannot be fulfilled unless 5% of curriculum time is allocated to the teaching of Religious Education. 

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