Consolidating the Levels of Attainment in RE A Diocesan Strategy CLUSTER TRAINING Summer term 2011

GATHERING PRAYER We gather together, partners in mission, companions on the journey, heralds of the Gospel. We gather on holy ground. On this holy ground all are welcome.

We give thanks to God for the opportunity for conversation, for sharing, for new visions and challenges. All: May we continue to be salt of the earth. We ask God for the light of understanding as we search for meaning and ask questions. All: May we be light for others. We give thanks to God for the sacred privilege of being educators in Catholic schools. All: May we enable all in our care to become the people God created them to be.

For all that God can do within us For all that God can do without us. All:Thanks be to God For all in whom Christ lived before us For all in whom Christ lived beside us. All:Thanks be to God For all the Spirit wants to bring us For where the Spirit wants to send us. All:Thanks be to God

‘Without a vision the people will perish’

The outcome of RE is..... ‘Religiously literate young people who have the knowledge, understanding and skills - appropriate to their age and capacity - to think spiritually, ethically and theologically, and who are aware of the demands of religious commitment in everyday life’ Religious Education Curriculum Directory

Aims To understand the Diocesan two-year directed and cohesive strategy to consolidate the Levels of Attainment in RE To know what is expected of RE Co- ordinators and teachers of RE To know the support available

A two-year directed and cohesive strategy to consolidate the Levels of Attainment in RE ‘ Direction and guidance from the centre’ Moving together with a common vision and a common purpose Further developing and consolidating the Levels of Attainment in RE and continuing to raise standards in RE

The story so far

For all children Religious Education is a proper subject in its own right in the school’s curriculum. It is a rigorous academic discipline, and as such is to be taught, developed and resourced with the same commitment as any other subject. Religious Education Curriculum Directory

Levels have several purposes, including: The affirmation of attainment and achievement. Providing an aid to the necessary recording and reporting of pupil progress. Helping the pupil to take the next step in learning. ‘This assessment for learning is the prime purpose of all assessment’

However, the levels of attainment are also a measure, a benchmark of attainment which will provide teachers with a measure of assessment of learning. This is a more ‘criterion- referenced’ measure of progress.

Levels of Attainment in RE To be of real use the levels of attainment……must be integrated into the whole planning process, informing the teaching and learning…. The critical question to address at the planning stage is what must I do in this topic, to enable a pupil to achieve level x?

The Diocesan Process To focus formal assessment, training and support on one strand of an AT and its level descriptors each term. This strand will be linked to one topic from ‘Here I Am’ each term. Each pupil will be formally assessed through the named topic each term. Foundation 1 and 2 will be assessed using the Early Learning Goals cross- referenced to RE.

Excellence in Religious Education is characterised by: a clarity of succinct religious learning objectives key content and appropriate methodologies rigour and richness of resources achievement of identified learning outcomes accurate methods of assessment. It will be a challenging educational engagement……..

The importance of the RE teacher cannot be exaggerated. We are most grateful to those teachers who, week in and week out have contributed to the Religious Education of pupils in our schools We offer them every encouragement and support as they strive to develop their professional expertise in this vital subject A Catholic school which promotes the best possible teaching of RE is fulfilling its true purpose.