To inform the Conference of a number of issues relating to the role of an Agreed Syllabus Conference and agree key principals and a draft timetable to guide the formulation of an Agreed Religious Education Syllabus.

Conference were informed of a number of issues relating to the role of an Agreed Syllabus Conference and considered a number of key principles and a draft timetable to guide the review of the Agreed Religious Education Syllabus.

The Clerk’s representative reported that while the DCSF had produced a consultation document “Religious education in English Schools: Non-statutory guidance 2009”, which was designed to supersede the guidance in DfE Circ 1/94, he was unaware of any change to the basic principles governing the working of an Agreed Syllabus Conference.   For the convenience of members, meetings of SACRE and the Agreed Syllabus Conference would be held concurrently.  However, he emphasised that the two meetings were distinct legal entities.  The Syllabus Conference was precluded from having co-opted members.  However, in the interest of obtaining a range of views it was anticipated that the SACRE co-opted members would be invited to contribute to the meetings. 

Mrs Mackley, RE Consultant, reported that she would be retiring from RE Today at the end of March 2010 and introduced Mr Stephen Pett from RE Today who it was believed, had been appointed by the local authority as her successor.   In view of the need for continuity when bringing together the reviewed syllabus, it was recommended that Mr Pett should take the lead in relation to the Agreed Syllabus review from the outset.

Mr Pett, RE Consultant, commented that, in view of financial constraints, Conference could agree to extend the life of the current syllabus with out further work.  However, in view of the changes in the last 4 or 5 years to the school syllabus and the changes to the primary school syllabus in 2010, the current Syllabus would be very out dated and of very limited use to teachers.  He outlined some key principles for discussion for the review of the new Syllabus which would ensure that it was: evolutionary not revolutionary; user friendly, reflected current statutory aims and used the new curriculum style and language already in use in other subjects, and would therefore be recognisable to teachers.

While the agenda included at appendix 2 five suggested key principles to underpin the review, he circulated a revised list of key principles for consideration which also sought to promote the incorporation of cross-curricular approaches to RE and exemplified excellent practice in promoting community cohesion.  Conference were advised that problems may arise in providing teachers with support through non-statutory guidance, as the new curriculum needed to be process led rather than content led.  It was also suspected that some teachers may go straight to the guidance rather than study the main document.  Therefore that key principal had been dropped from the original list.

Conference debated the revised key principles and in particular the provision of guidance to teachers.  On this point it was commented that where a teacher may be inexperienced in teaching RE it would be better for them have the benefit of non-statutory guidance, or at least examples, than have nothing at all.  It was also commented that teachers had a heavy work load due to all the changes across the whole school curriculum and would appreciate some form of assistance in subject planning.

Conference suggested that the following elements be considered in the new Syllabus:

• That the ‘P’ Scales be included in the main document rather than be an add on;
• Similarly that the Early Years Foundation details be included;
• Personal development / values;
• Values and philosophy for children;
• It should reflect the language and style used in the primary curriculum.

Conference noted that only 8 days had been allocated to the RE Consultant between now and March 2010 to compile the initial draft of the revised syllabus.

Conference agreed that the new Syllabus needed to be inspirational and in being so would also make a major contribution to the community cohesion agenda.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted and

a)      Subject to ‘non-statutory guidance and training being provided to teachers’ being added to the revised list of key principles, as circulated at the meeting, the key principles should underpin the review;

b)     The draft timetable set out at appendix 3 in the agenda be approved;

c)      Mr S Pett, RE Consultant, proceed with the initial drafting work and report on progress to the March 2010 meeting.