Open consultation Consultation on the Religious Education Core Syllabus

Summary

A consultation on the draft Religious Education (RE) Core Syllabus is underway, led by the RE Drafting Group, under the chairmanship of Professor Noel Purdy. The consultation is housed on the Department of Education website and facilitated by a DE secretariat function.

In line with the Terms of Reference, the revised syllabus aims to provide Religious Education that is objective, critical and pluralistic; that recognises the significance of Christianity within the history, culture and society of Northern Ireland while engaging meaningfully with other religious and non-religious worldviews

Documents

• Religious Education Core Syllabus Adobe PDF (275 KB)
• Overview Report - Review of RE Core Syllabus Adobe PDF (2 MB)
• Report on Engagement with Children and Young People Adobe PDF (798 KB)
• Review of RE Syllabus - EQIA Adobe PDF (485 KB)
• Review of RE Syllabus - Rural Needs Assessment Adobe PDF (265 KB)
• Review of RE Syllabus - Privacy Notice Adobe PDF (157 KB)

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Consultation description

The Department of Education is hosting a consultation on the draft RE syllabus on behalf of the RE Drafting Group. 

The revision of the RE syllabus was commissioned following the Supreme Court judgment concerning Religious Education and collective worship in Northern Ireland schools and was undertaken within clearly defined Terms of Reference. 

The revised syllabus seeks to fulfil the Terms of Reference. It aims to provide Religious Education that is objective, critical and pluralistic; that recognises the significance of Christianity within the history, culture and society of Northern Ireland while engaging meaningfully with other religious and non-religious worldviews; and that is inclusive, relevant and intellectually challenging for all learners.

This consultation offers an important opportunity for stakeholders to share their views and contribute to shaping the future of RE. Responses will inform the final version of the syllabus ahead of approval and implementation.

Understanding the consultation documents

The consultation is focused on the draft RE Core Syllabus.  A short report on the review process, including a summary of engagement with children and young people, are published to provide context.   

These documents reflect the work of the RE Drafting Group, including evidence gathered through consultation and widespread stakeholder engagement.

The draft RE syllabus sets out the proposed content, structure and progression of learning from Foundation Stage onwards, organised through key subject areas such as:

• beliefs, teachings and sources
• practices, traditions, lived religion and experiences
• identity, meaning, values and ethics

When reviewing the draft syllabus, it is important to consider how learning progresses across stages and how knowledge is sequenced to build pupils’ understanding over time.