RE Subject Leadership Developing Religious Education in School and Gathering Evidence

1. RE Subject Leadership Developing Religious Education in School and Gathering Evidence June 2008 Chris Power

2. Background To Development of RE Evaluate where you are, where you would like to go, how you can get there, what you will need. Action Plan Staff issues – what are the specific needs of the staff in your school? Resources – what resources will you need to achieve your goals? Timetabling – start with a blank timetable, put in 2 ½ hours of RE (including at least one extended session) and build other subjects around it.

3. Using This Powerpoint The following slides (apart from the ‘Guide To’ pages) are the main title pages that make up an effective RE subject leader file. The bullet points that follow each title is what should be included in that section. The vast majority of the documents referred to, are taken from either the North Yorkshire website or the Leeds Diocese Website. The completed file will help to support and aid the Section 48 inspection by having the required information in one place.

4. Vision and Aims Mission Statement What you see RE as being in your school What your aims are for RE in your school

5. Policy Documents Admissions Policy Curriculum RE Policy Collective Worship Policy Home/School/Parish Policy Parents as partners Policy Marking and Feedback Policy Teaching and Learning Policy Action Plan – see next slide

6. Action Plan Actions to achieve targets Success criteria Persons responsible Start/Finish dates (realistic time planning) Resource and Costs Monitoring person and method Notes on progress Evaluation Cost effectiveness and value for money

7. Monitoring and Evaluation School Development Plan Performance Management Targets RE Co-ordinators Monitoring Pack Book Scrutiny Planning Scrutiny Collective Worship Observations RE Lesson Observations

8. Guide To Book Scrutiny Take Sample of Higher/Middle/Lower ability Locate evidence if elsewhere (files, photographs, cross-curricular books) Give individual teacher oral and written feedback using sheet from monitoring pack. Give whole school feedback picking up on general issues. Give staff (in both an individual and whole school setting) a chance to respond, ask questions, discuss issues. Set targets for improvement and re –evaluate at agreed later date.

9. Guide To Medium Term Planning Monitoring Take examples of medium term planning throughout the school Use sheet from monitoring pack and give individual teacher oral and written feedback. Give whole school feedback, outline whole school issues and explore difficulties, respond to questions Set targets for improvement and re –evaluate at agreed later date.

10. Guide To Whole School Lesson Observations Observe lessons throughout the school (alone or with Headteacher depending on school situation) Use sheet from monitoring pack and give individual teacher oral and written feedback. Give whole school feedback, outline whole school issues and explore difficulties, respond to questions. Set targets for improvement and re –evaluate at agreed later date.

11. Resources List and location of resources within school Useful references e.g. website, museum, visits etc… Special instructions/care details

12. Financial Information Details of budget/bids/orders Resource audit Planned replacement Shopping/wish list – include items you would like to purchase in the future.

13. Staff Development Record of training/staff meetings/ Before you Begin and staff prayer sessions Evidence of dissemination to others Performance management objectives where relevant.

14. Use of Before You Begin Important part of the effectiveness of RE in all aspects of school life. Should be adapted to suit the needs of the staff. An opportunity to explore and get to the heart of forthcoming topics. Increase subject and faith knowledge amongst staff. Time for prayer and reflection between staff Helps to set the topic within the bigger picture and state outcomes. Discuss possible resources and approaches. Opportunity for staff to ask questions, gain clarity.

15. Documentation - Planning Long Term Planning (including other faiths timetable) Medium Term Planning for each class Collective Worship Planning (and co-ordinators job description) for each week.

16. Assemblies Whole School (following on from Sunday’s Gospel readings/ Wednesday’s word) KS1 and KS2 Assemblies planned by RE Subject leader through consultation with class teachers. This responds to the needs of the school/Key Stage/children

17. Prayer Leaflets Taken from diocese website, handed out to class teachers to support collective worship and reflective parts of RE lessons.

18. Parents Letters Taken from diocese website. Inform parents of areas covered, important dates, ideas for activities at home. Wednesday Word – encourage families to worship and pray together. Fits in well with the distinctive nature of the Catholic school.

19. Assessment Levels of Attainment RE Targets Whole School End of Unit Assessments Misc Assessment Information – assessment tasks, levels of attainment, staff training driver words,

20. Misc Information Any other RE documentation or information.