The Wandsworth Agreed Syllabus Conference met on Monday 27 February 2023 to discuss and potentially agree the Locally Agreed Syllabus for Wandsworth schools. The meeting's agenda focused solely on this key educational document.

Locally Agreed Syllabus

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the Locally Agreed Syllabus for Wandsworth schools. This document, revised in February 2023 from its April 2017 version, outlines what pupils should be taught in Religious Education (RE) and the expected standards of their performance at different educational stages.

The syllabus is a statutory document prepared under Schedule 31 to the Education Act 1996. It serves four main purposes:

• To establish an entitlement: Ensuring all pupils in community schools have access to learning in RE, regardless of background, contributing to their development as citizens.
• To establish standards: Setting explicit expectations for learning and attainment for pupils, parents, teachers, governors, employers, and the public, providing legal standards for assessment.
• To promote continuity and coherence: Contributing to a coherent curriculum that facilitates smooth transitions between schools and educational phases, and laying a foundation for lifelong learning.
• To promote public understanding: Increasing public confidence in the work of schools in RE and encouraging local stakeholder involvement.

The purpose of Religious Education, as detailed in the syllabus, is to provoke challenging questions about meaning, purpose, beliefs, and morality, enabling students to learn about and from religions and worldviews. It aims to equip students with knowledge and understanding while encouraging the development of their own ideas, values, and identities. The syllabus details two key assessment objectives: AO1 (Learning about religion and beliefs) and AO2 (Learning from religion and beliefs), outlining expected progress from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to Key Stage 5.

The document also addresses the legal status of RE, noting it is a statutory subject but not part of the National Curriculum. It clarifies the requirements for academies and free schools, as well as for voluntary controlled and foundation schools with a religious character. The right for parents to withdraw their children from RE, and for teachers to withdraw from teaching it, is also outlined.

Furthermore, the syllabus emphasizes the role of the RE subject leader in promoting strong leadership, effective resourcing, and a clear vision for the subject. It highlights the importance of RE in contributing to community cohesion, Fundamental British Values (FBV), and Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural (SMSC) development. The document also provides guidance on teaching and learning in RE, stressing the creation of a safe space for discussing controversial and sensitive issues, and outlining various pedagogical approaches, resources, and the importance of neutrality and open discussion. Assessment within RE is also detailed, with a focus on ongoing evaluation and alignment with school policies.

The report pack includes detailed appendices covering the teaching of specific religions and belief systems, including Bahá'í, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Humanism, and the Society of Friends (Quakers). These appendices offer guidance on key beliefs, festivals, scripture, symbols, and glossaries for each. They also provide suggested content and activities for teaching these subjects across different key stages, from Early Years Foundation Stage to Key Stage 4 and beyond. The document also lists relevant resources, including websites, books, and places of worship and speakers.

The full report pack can be accessed here: Public reports pack 27th-Feb-2023 20.30 Wandsworth Agreed Syllabus Conference.