Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Report for Information

1) Purpose of Report:

1.1. To present the Agreed Syllabus Conference with the proposals from QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority) for Agreed Syllabi, currently under review.

2) Contextual Issues:

2.1. This paper supports the Corporate Strategy (maximising well being) by ensuring children's provision in religious education is secure.

2.2. Primary legislation requires that an agreed syllabus for RE is reviewed every five years. The syllabus, Living Difference, was published and launched in schools in July 2004 and is, therefore, starting the process of review.

2.3. The County RE Inspector has recently attended consultations with QCA in relation to Agreed syllabi reviews.

3) Agreed Syllabus alignment with QCA proposals:

3.1. The QCA have invited agreed syllabus conferences who are undertaking agreed syllabus review in 2009-2010 to meet as a group in order to align their agreed syllabi with QCA's curriculum review.

3.2. Mark Chater of QCA identified that representatives of SACREs who join this group should ensure that their SACRE is willing to include the following features in its revised agreed syllabus.

· The 3 aims of the curriculum

- successful learners

- confident individuals

- responsible citizens

· The 6 identified compound concepts

Beliefs, teachings and sources

Practices and ways of life

Expressing meaning

Identity, diversity and belonging

Meaning, purpose and truth

Values and commitments

· Breadth of study to include a non religious world view e.g. Humanism

· Skills, including personal learning and thinking skills

· The Every Child Matters agenda

· Levels of attainment aligned with the non statutory framework

· National initiatives e.g. assessment for learning

4) Conclusions:

4.1. That the Agreed Syllabus Conference approves the alignment of the reviewed agreed syllabus with the proposals from QCA after consultation with Portsmouth and Southampton Agreed Syllabus Conferences.