EGN NEWS DESK
There have been requires extra help for non secular schooling (RE) after an Ofsted report revealed this week discovered that many colleges have to “add depth” to their RE curriculum.
Ofsted’s new topic report, ‘Deep and significant’, attracts on proof gathered throughout visits to a pattern of major and secondary faculties in 2013.
It is the primary time that RE provision has been reviewed by Ofsted since 2013 and the report revealed on Wednesday discovered that “little progress” has been made since then.
In “most” faculties, RE provision is “superficially broad however lacks depth”, whereas “a big proportion of colleges” are failing to fulfill the statutory requirement of instructing RE in any respect instructional levels.
Ofsted additionally discovered a “lack of readability” across the RE curriculum, prompting requires higher authorities steering outlining what must be taught and when.
Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, mentioned: “A powerful RE curriculum will not be solely essential for pupils’ cultural improvement, it’s a requirement of legislation and too many colleges will not be assembly that obligation.
“I hope that the examples of fine RE curriculum in our report assist faculties develop their very own apply and help the event of a powerful RE curriculum for all.”
Deborah Weston, Chair of the Religious Education Policy Unit, mentioned that Ofsted was proper to spotlight that “in far too many colleges throughout the nation RE doesn’t fulfil the topic’s potential”.
“Fortunately, lots of the components it recognized as enabling high-quality RE may be simply addressed. These embody sturdy teacher topic data, entry to skilled improvement, common time for RE classes, and a well-organised curriculum,” she mentioned.
Sarah Lane Cawte, chair of the Religious Education Council of England & Wales, mentioned that funding was a think about poor RE provision.
“In latest years RE has suffered from a gulf in authorities funding and the axing of the teacher coaching bursary,” she mentioned.
“Whilst the bursaries have been reinstated there’s nonetheless a lot to be accomplished. We are happy that this Ofsted report requires extra authorities motion to help RE throughout the sector.”
