Archived decisions

Item 11 Appendix 1

An update from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) about RE Issues

1. Starting this year QCA will commence its review of the primary curriculum to be launched in schools in 2011. The non-statutory framework for RE will be used to provide schemes of work for RE on the QCA website.

2. Nominations have been submitted to DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families) for RE specialists to be members of the Humanities diploma development group.

3. QCA and Ofsted are focussing on pedagogy in RE. Consultations will take place with regional support advisers and academics in order for RE to be aligned with other curriculum subjects.

4. New QCA documents available are:

    · New SACRE reporting format for annual reports

    · Guidance for agreed syllabus conference making effective use of the non statutory framework

5. New GCSE religious studies criteria will be introduced in September 2009 to be reflected in the short course examinations in 2010 and the long course in 2011.

6. Case studies for spiritual and moral development will appear on the QCA website shortly.

7. QCA will be supporting the review of Circular 1/94.

RE Council Report

£1M has been allocated to support RE.

Activities will include:

    · Updating guidance on RE within Circular 1/94.

    · Supporting RE through the National Association of Teachers of RE (NATRE).

    · Supporting local SACRE's (a regional programme of training new SACRE members has been devised, available in SE in 2009/2010)

    · Developing a Handbook for continued professional development for RE teachers

    · Undertaking a review of the nature of materials used for teaching of world religions.

Report from Ofsted

1. The current round of subject inspection involves 30 visits to primary and 30 to secondary schools each year. Ofsted are looking closely at a number of threads including:

    · A continuing evaluation of the impact of agreed syllabuses in a wider range of local authorities

    · The teaching of Christianity

    · Continuity and progression in the RE curriculum

    · Innovation in the curriculum delivery of RE.

2. Visits to `good practice' schools both as part of, and in addition to, routine visits.

3. Ofsted has recently issued further guidance to Sec 5 inspectors to clarify the legal basis for RE and set out the responsibilities of inspectors in relation to checks on whether schools are fulfilling their statutory duties.

4. Ofsted is current developing guidance about the inclusion of a judgement on community cohesion in its inspections of schools from September 2008.

5. The 2008 HMI RE Conference - scheduled for 20 May 2008 - is being organised in partnership with NATRE with a focus on pedagogy in RE.

6. Ofsted has continued to meet with SACREs from across the country to share its work with members and hear from SACREs about their work and concerns. Among the issues that have been raised are:

    · The issue of how SACREs can undertake their responsibility for monitoring the provision for RE/Collective Worship and the effectiveness of their Agreed Syllabus

    · The likely impact on RE of the secondary (and imminently, the primary) national curriculum reviews and the issue of how SACREs can respond

    · The implications for RE and SACREs of the new requirement on schools to promote community cohesion - to be inspected from September 2008.