Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education

What is a locally agreed syllabus?

An agreed syllabus specifies what must be taught in religious education within an authority. It should be reviewed every five years. The SACRE elects a group called an agreed syllabus conference to review the syllabus. Once agreed, all schools are required to teach in accordance with the syllabus, with the exception of voluntary aided schools, academies and those with a trust deed which specifies otherwise.

Cheshire West and Chester agreed syllabus for Religious Education 2019

How much time is given at each key stage for religious education?

• Schools must allocate sufficient time and resources to ensure that the expectations of the agreed syllabus can be met and that children are given experiences that are coherent and meaningful.
• Schools must ensure that teachers of religious education are enabled to teach the requirements of the agreed syllabus. This will have implications for their professional development.
• Schools must allocate sufficient resources for pupils to be fully engaged in their learning and reach the highest possible standards in religious education.
• It is required that during all key stages a non-religious world view will be taught.
• The requirements of the syllabus cannot be fulfilled unless 5% of curriculum time is allocated to the teaching of Religious Education.

Foundation stage

Christianity alongside other religions as decided by the Early Years Team and RE lead which should also include child initiated learning opportunities. It is expected that by the end of the summer term, foundation stage classes will be moving towards the statutory requirement for key stage one.

• In key stage one: 36 hours per year (e.g. 50 minutes a week)
• In key stage 2: 45 hours per year (e.g. an hour per week)
• In key stage 3: 45 hours per year (e.g. an hour a week)
• In key stage 4: 40 hours per year
• 16-19: allocation of time for RE for all should be clearly identifiable

What is taught in the Cheshire West and Chester Agreed syllabus for RE?

Foundation Stage

• Christianity and others to meet EYFS requirements of understanding the world

Key stage one: Year one and year two (six terms)

• Christianity - three terms
• Judaism - one term
• Islam - one term
• Free choice enquiry - one term

Key stage two: Year three and year four (six terms)

• Christianity - three terms
• Sikhism/Hinduism - one term
• Judaism - ½ term
• Islam - ½ term
• Free choice enquiry - one term

Key stage two: Year five and year six (six terms)

• Christianity - three terms
• Islam - one terms
• Hinduism/Sikhism - one term (whichever was not delivered in years 3 or 4)
• Free choice enquiry - one term

Note: Reference to a non-religious world view which could be through free choice units.

Key stage three: Year seven and eight (six terms)

• Christianity - three terms
• Islam - one term
• Judaism - one term
• Hinduism - one term

Key stage three: Year 9 (three terms)

• Christianity - two terms
• Buddhism - one term
• Islam - one term
• Sikhism - one term
• Hinduism - 0.5 term
• Judaism - 0.5 term

Either GCSE

or:

Key stage four

• Christianity - two terms
• Optional Baha’i, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism - one term

Schools following external courses are deemed to be meeting the requirements of the agreed syllabus.

Non examination RE groups should study:

Key stage five

• the key stage four Christianity requirements
• at least two of the topics below from a religious and world view perspective:
  Is there life after death, is there ever a just war, How important is marriage, what is prejudice and discrimination?

Schools following external courses are deemed to be meeting the requirements of the agreed syllabus.

Non examination RE groups should study at least two of the following topics:

• Science and religion, Philosophy, Economic Philosophy, Afterlife, Interfaith Issues (e.g. Arab/Israeli conflict), Neo Conservatism, Sexuality, Ethics, Popular Culture and Religion, Religion in the 21st Century, other belief systems e.g. Baha’i, Humanism, Jainism.