Essex Agreed Syllabus from September 2023
The new Essex Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (RE) should be used by schools in Essex from September 2023. Essex Local Authority and SACRE (Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education) would like to offer you support and suggestions to help you in achieving this, and in sustaining and developing high quality religious education for children in Essex.
Support, Training and Resources
Recordings and slides from previous training sessions can be found here.
Throughout the academic year 2023 to 2024 we are offering 6 twilight sessions. You can sign up for these through the Education Essex online booking system to book your free place. Please search using the course name. Dates are:
Autumn 1 - Thursday 12 October 2023 4pm to 5pm - The new Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education: troubleshooting and sharing best practice
Autumn 2 - Thursday 9 November 2023 4pm to 5pm - The 'Inquiry' Model: Subject Knowledge, Planning and Delivering High Quality RE
Spring 1 - Thursday 18 January 2024 4pm to 5pm - Finding Great Resources to Support the Teaching of Religious Education
Spring 2 - Thursday 7 March 2024 4pm to 5pm - Making good use of 'big questions' and the 'Three Lenses' in RE
Summer 1 - Thursday 9 May 2024 4pm to 5pm - Curriculum Planning and Assessment Using the New Syllabus for Religious Education
Summer 2 - Thursday 20 June 2024 4pm to 5pm - Support and Planning for September RE
For further subject expertise and advice, please complete the online form .
Schools can join the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (NATRE). They offer school membership and this gives access to a range of support and resources.
Selecting resources for RE can be tricky, NATRE have shared guidance on resources for teaching Religious Education on their website.
Network Groups
Your local teaching school hub may have an RE Network that will be able to support you. NATRE local groups: visit www.re-hubs.uk for latest Religious Education news, CPD offers, ECT support and an online directory for places of interest/worship and visitors linked to RE.
Resources
The Essex syllabus is adapted from the Norfolk syllabus. It is sufficiently similar to make use of the resources that are on the Diocese of Norwich website, such as:
exemplar curricula you can adapt
slides for use in training staff
knowledge organisers to help teachers and students ensure they know what they need to know
broad lesson planning to support each inquiry (a half term of planning)
resources and fine detail lesson planning
Saffron Academy Trust (SAT) have developed a scheme of work to support the new syllabus. It is for schools to determine what resources and approach best fits their demographic, and there will always be a need to adapt for your students, but some schemes can be effective in getting the structures into place. You can access sample resources from the scheme here.
Useful Websites and Documents
About SACRE
It is a legal requirement for every Local Authority to convene a SACRE (Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education).
The Essex SACRE meets once a term and is made up of four statutory groups and co-opted members:
- Group A - representing non-Anglican Christian denominations and other religions and religious denominations.
- Group B - representing the Church of England.
- Group C - representing various teachers' associations.
- Group D - representing the Local Authority.
View the current Essex SACRE Membership (November 2021) and the Essex SACRE report (2012 to 2022).
The Local Authority works with SACRE to:
- track and review the provision of RE and collective worship
- consider with SACRE any action that needs to be taken in respect of support offered to schools
SACRE provides advice and support to schools, on matters related to Religious Education and Collective Worship.
