Learn/Teach/Lead Conference Ed Pawson Head of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics, The King’s School, Ottery St Mary, Devon Chair of NATRE RE Adviser to Devon SACRE Learn/Teach/Lead Conference Plymouth 25th October 2012

Criticism over plans to exclude religious studies from Ebacc The National Picture Criticism over plans to exclude religious studies from Ebacc Religious leaders argue RE is academically rigorous and helps build community cohesion (Guardian 25/6/11) Religious education increasingly 'marginalised' in schools (Telegraph 11/6/12) Schools being 'forced to axe religious education lessons' Religious education is being “killed off” in schools because of Government reforms to the curriculum and qualifications, according to research (Telegraph 28/9/12) English baccalaureate: another dog's dinner of a plan for exam reform This is the result of the coalition agreement rather than any meaningful input from teachers, parents or young people…. Internationally, there is no correlation between this type of reform and countries with outstanding education systems. (Guardian 17/9/12)

“Schools failing to provide RE for all students” The National Picture “Schools failing to provide RE for all students” National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (NATRE) survey June 2012 33% - legal requirements are not being met in key stage 4 25% - a reduction in the number of specialist staff employed to teach RE, and 82% of these reported that the introduction of the EBacc was the main reason for this change 54% - will have no entries for GCSE Short Course in 2014, a rise of 12% over the previous year. 63% of schools that reported a drop in Full Course entries cited the EBacc as the main reason (55% in 2011) 20% - are trying to deliver the GCSE RS in less than the recommended teaching time. There is a growing body of evidence, from Ofsted subject surveys, that this practice is detrimental to students’ RE 71% - received no subject specific training in school in the 2011/12 academic year;

Consultation phase: 7th November to 6th December 2012 Phase 2, in 2013, will lead to the writing of a new, national RE curriculum document

A chance to meet other RE co-ordinators and teachers of RE DEVON RE Network Group A chance to meet other RE co-ordinators and teachers of RE Examples of topics we have covered are: Primary focus: assessment marking, levelling and moderating in RE RE and Early Years cross-phase transition in RE Secondary focus: marking new style GCSE questions RE and the EBac RE in academies using NATRE resources developing higher order thinking skills exploring controversial issues