Dear Colleagues,
Please find the latest revision of Widening Horizons, the Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (RE) in the London Borough of Hounslow.
The locally determined RE syllabus allows RE teaching to reflect the richness and diversity of the local Hounslow community. It provides a statutory framework within which teachers can plan appropriate and exciting units of learning for pupils. Hounslow has continued its practice of drawing on the expertise and experience of teachers in reviewing and enriching this syllabus.
One of the Authority’s important responsibilities is to work with SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) to provide a robust, relevant, and user-friendly RE curriculum for our schools. There is an increasing diversity in the range of cultures, beliefs and backgrounds of those who live, work and worship in our borough as well as in the case of our children and young people who grow and learn together.
The agreed syllabus for religious education in the London Borough of Hounslow 2022-2026 – Widening Horizons
Ofsted has published a series of reviews into different subjects across the curriculum. This review looks at religious education (RE). The review recognises that there is no single way of constructing and teaching a high-quality RE curriculum. However, it does identify some common features and refers to 3 different types of subject-specific knowledge that pupils learn in RE.
Read more here – RE Research Review Series
The review suggests that improvement in RE at both primary and secondary level includes knowing more of these ‘pillars of progression’. This prepares pupils to engage in a complex, multi-religious and multi-secular world.
Ofsted will use this understanding of subject quality to examine how RE is taught in England’s schools where RE falls under Ofsted’s inspection remit.
Read the full document by clicking the link below.
A number of training sessions were funded by SACRE in 2021.
Tom Sherrington is an education consultant and author. He writes the popular blog teacherhead.com and his books include The Learning Rainforest and best-seller Rosenshine's Principles in Action. Most recently he co-authored Teaching WalkThrus with Oliver Caviglioli.
With 30 years' experience as a physics and maths teacher and school leader, including 11 years as a Headteacher, Tom is in demand from schools around the world to deliver CPD for teachers and leadership teams. He works with several schools and colleges providing consultancy support on curriculum and improving the quality of teaching. He is a regular keynote speaker and contributor to conferences and education festivals.
Tom Sherrington delivered a session on evidence-informed teaching.
Evidence-informed teaching: what does the research say? – video
Tom Bennett delivered two SACRE training sessions.
Teaching behaviour habits so students can learn – presentation
Remote learning in the time of COVID and beyond – presentation
OCR Religious Studies A level
Libby Ahluwahlia delivered a session about argument-driven essays.
Writing Argument-Driven Essays – presentation
If you have used or know of any good resources to share with subject leaders or teachers in Hounslow, please email them to Emma Pett – e.pett@hounsloweducationpartnership.co.uk