Religious Education Within Secondary Schools
Within the 2010 document “Guidance on Curriculum Planning in Catholic Secondary schools” (http://www.sces.uk.com/curriculum-planning.html) the Catholic Education Commission identifies 10 key messages for delivering the curriculum, but in a particular way suggests how, through whole school planning and activity, Religious Education should be delivered. It states that,
Every Catholic school should:
1. articulate the Christian vision which it is offering to young people, when mapping
out its curriculum plan and overall educational provision
2. identify the Gospel values which it intends to deliver through the various
curriculum areas and demonstrate how these values can shape the development
of ‘capacities’ in young people
3. place the Liturgical Calendar at the centre of its planning process, setting out the
main seasons and feasts which will influence many of the school’s activities
4. systematically plan a range of opportunities for all young people to show love of
their ‘neighbour’ by supporting those in need, both in the local community and
globally
5. recognise the centrality of religious education to the formation of young people’s
lives - shaping their values, sustaining their relationship with God and with others,
and guiding their search for meaning, purpose and truth in life
6. meet the Scottish Hierarchy’s minimum time requirement for religious education
of 2.5 hours per week for children in primary school and 2 hours per week for
young people in secondary school
7. as of August 2010, faithfully observe the Church’s guidance provided in This Is Our
Faith on the content and nature of religious education programmes for pupils in
P1 to P7 and S1 to S3, and on the existing National Syllabus documents for S4, S5
& S6.
8. ensure that the internal procedures which are used to monitor the quality of
school provision also include arrangements for evaluating and improving the
quality of learning and teaching in religious education courses
9. consider carefully the potential consequences of decisions taken in designing
provision for other curriculum areas so as to avoid any adverse impact on the
quality of religious education provision for all pupils
10. plan carefully the deployment of specialist and ‘generalist’ teachers of religious
education to ensure the optimum impact on the quality of young people’s
experience of religious education
The Bishops’ conference of Scotland sets out that the minimum time for Religious Education as 2 hours per week within secondary schools. This is normally delivered through 2 periods of ‘core’ R.E. plus planned programmes of assemblies, retreats, Christian action and opportunities to participate in the sacraments. These opportunities are offered throughout the year and are in addition to core R.E. time.
Each Catholic secondary school has a Religious Education department. While the head teacher maintains overall responsibility for Religious Education, it is normal practice for a Principal Teacher of Religious Education to manage and lead R.E. on a day to day basis. Many schools offer support to R.E. departments through “Chaplaincy support” teams, “Liturgy groups” and “Youth Ministry” teams. These help to plan, prepare and facilitate school liturgies, retreat programmes, charity events and to run groups and societies within the school such as pro-life groups and Youth Saint Vincent De Paul conferences. 
