Agenda item

That the draft revised Locally Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education as submitted be adopted as the Agreed Syllabus for use in Slough Community and Foundation schools for a period of five years from 1st September, 2018.

The Lead Member for Children & Education introduced a report that sought approval of the draft revised Slough Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.  The draft had been recommended to Cabinet by the Agreed Syllabus Conference at its meeting on 27^th June 2018 for adoption as the Agreed Syllabus for RE in Slough Community and Foundation schools for five years from 1^st September 2018.

The syllabus had been agreed across the six Berkshire authorities and teachers and representatives of faith groups had been fully involved in its development.  It was structured around the themes of ‘Believing, Behaving and Belonging’ and whilst the syllabus was broadly unchanged from the current version, it was shorter and included provision that a slightly wider range of religions and belief systems be taught as statutory requirements; bringing Islam into the Primary Phase and the study of a non-religious world view at Key Stage 3.  In response to a question about the learning model and assessment that would be used it was noted that there was greater flexibility to schools and teachers about how the syllabus would be implemented.

After due consideration, the draft revised syllabus was agreed.

Resolved –  That the draft revised Locally Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education as submitted be adopted as the Agreed Syllabus for use in Slough Community and Foundation schools for a period of five years from 1st September, 2018.