GCSE and A Level reform: Religious Studies

GCSE and A Level reform: Religious Studies

The RE Council of England and Wales welcomes the consultation on the criteria for GCSE and A Level examinations in Religious Studies (closed 29 December 2014) and is pleased that its officers and member organisations have contributed to the process which has been led by the Department for Education. We have encouraged our member organisations to join us in responding to the consultation document, and the RE Council Board’s response is available to view on the REC website. Ofqual is consulting in parallel on the assessment arrangements for all subjects, with their consultation closing on 5 January 2015. The Ofqual consultation can be viewed here.

GOV: Over half of schools found to be failing pupils on religious education

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-half-of-schools-found-to-be-failing-pupils-on-religious-education

Over half of schools found to be failing pupils on religious education

Schools and the government have failed to focus effectively on religious education, Ofsted has said.

Read the full press release.

Published:

9 October 2013

Organisation:

Ofsted

Policy:

Making inspections of schools, colleges and children's services more effective

NATRE: Transforming Religious Education Ofsted report 2010

http://www.natre.org.uk/docstore/Transforming%20religious%20education.doc

Transforming Religious Education Ofsted report 2010

Ofsted

Ofsted's 2010 report on Religious Education based on research in 30 primary and 30 secondary schools over three years.

View document

REOnline : Reflections on the 2013 Ofsted report

http://www.reonline.org.uk/supporting/re-matters/news-inner/?id=22185

Alan Brine HMI

November 5, 2013 Think Pieces,

The core message of the latest Ofsted report on RE is clear: RE at its best makes a great contribution to the academic and personal development of children and young people; but it is not good enough in too many schools.

The report goes on to try to analyse some of the reasons why RE needs to ‘up its game’. The purpose of this Think piece and the linked Forum debate in the RE Café, is to explore some of the ideas which underpin the report.

Ofsted religious education report: realising the potential

http://www.nasacre.org.uk/news/2013-10-06/ofsted-religious-education-report-realising-the-potential

The latest Ofsted religious education report - realising the potential is now published.
There are references made to SACREs in the challenges, key findings and recommendations.  There are also exemplars of good practice which look specifically at four areas:

• placing enquiry at the heart of learning – as a key to improving teaching
• high-quality leadership and management in primary schools – as a key to improvement and raising the status of RE
• forward-thinking leadership and management in secondary schools – as a key to securing provision for RE for the future
• effective RE in special schools – adapting RE to meet the distinctive needs of pupils who have learning difficulties.

Click to read or download the full report.
Click to read or download the summary.

Ofsted report - NASACRE press release

http://www.nasacre.org.uk/news/2013-10-07/ofsted-report-nasacre-press-release

NASACRE welcomes the report published by Ofsted on Sunday 6th October, 2013 relating to Religious Education (RE) in English schools. The report highlights the ways that the government has marginalised RE and how this has led to confusion in schools about the nature, purpose and place of the subject within the curriculum.
The report rightly calls into question the mechanisms for determining and supporting RE, both nationally and locally. All too often, Standing Advisory Councils for RE (SACREs) and Agreed Syllabus Conferences are under funded and under supported by the local authorities that are legally obliged to convene them. This report highlights the responsibilities that fall within the remit of local authorities in relation to RE. NASACRE urges the government to ensure that they are fulfilling their statutory duties.
Where they are given appropriate resources SACREs, which represent all the key stakeholders in the subject, have the ability to support RE locally and ensure that every pupil receives religious education of the highest quality. NASACRE urges the government to exercise moral leadership and respond to the recommendations made by Ofsted for the Department for Education (DfE) and ensure that local authorities meet their statutory obligations. Similarly, NASACRE would also like to see the Department for Communities and Local Government support Ofsted in ensuring that local authorities take their responsibilities seriously along with the DfE.
SACRES can do the job entrusted to them by law if they are properly funded and resourced and they are the best placed means by which to ensure that all pupils receive the high quality, balanced and inclusive religious education to which they are entitled.