Agenda item

Welsh Government are consulting on proposals to ensure access to the full curriculum for all learners. In this proposal Welsh Government are seeking views on

• the right to withdraw from RE (and RSE)
• a change of name for RE

The Minister is ‘minded’ to remove the parental right to withdraw from RE and RSE and to change the name of RE to Religions and Worldviews.

Mair Huws led the discussion on the Council's response to the consultation document and the following general points were noted prior to responding to the specific questions:-  

It was wrong to prevent parents from doing anything

On the other hand, parents should not be given the choice and the right should be withdrawn from them.

It was important for children to get a full and balanced education.

It was difficult to understand why parents would want to refuse for their children to study the subject.

The subject has great value as it is a subject that touches upon so many other subjects. 

The subject needs to be treated equally, like other subjects - i.e. there is no option to opt out of other subjects.

Would it perhaps be of assistance if the subject's name was changed?   Aren't children losing out if they do not attend these lessons?

It was noted that it would be interesting to get the figures showing how many parents had withdrawn their children from the subject in Gwynedd.

Reference was made to those children who are home educated and it was questioned if they receive religious education lessons?   It was suggested that perhaps it would be possible for SACRE to produce a package or reading list for them.   Mair Huws noted that she would ask the Department and would make arrangements for the matter to be discussed at a future meeting.

A vote was taken on this matter and it was agreed, that SACRE was in favour of withdrawing the right to opt out.   It was agreed that Mair Huws would include the above observations when responding to the following questions:

Question 1 - What would be the implications on learners, parents/carers and schools if all learners had to take Religious Education and/or Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) lessons in the new curriculum?

It was noted that parents had the right to withdraw their children from other matters, but also pupils had their own rights.   It was noted that it was a difficult, but interesting discussion.   It was important not to ignore parents' rights, but it was questioned why attention had been drawn to this particular subject.   It was noted that there were no implications for parents or children as it was currently statutory.   One implication may be more Home schooling?

Question 2 - What information, help and support would be needed if this approach was adopted?

It was noted that parents would require background information and headteachers would require a package.   It was noted that with all the changes happening in the area of Humanities and Health Education, a great deal of support was required generally by schools.

Question 3 - Our proposal is that parents/carers should not be able to prevent their children from receiving Religious Education and Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) lessons.  This will be introduced from September 2022 onwards for all primary aged learners and in Year 7 in secondary schoolS (with other year groups added every year).  

See above.

Question 4 - What is an appropriate name for ‘Religious Education’ to correctly reflect the wider scope offered within the new curriculum?
The following suggestions were given:

It needs to change from Religious Education in order to show the subject's breadth.

What about World view/ Bydolwg (rather than World views/Bydolygon), as their was no direct translation of World Views?  It was important not to lose the Spiritual element.

Resolved to note that a change of name would be a good idea, however, there was no preferred name.

Question 5 - We would like to know your views on the effects that not including the right to withdraw would have on the Welsh language

It was noted that there was a tendency for children to choose humanities through the medium of Welsh, if the documentS were produced in Welsh, then there were no anticipated problems.    It was noted that it was necessary to receive the Welsh and English versions at the same time. 

Question 6 - Also explain how the proposed policy can be formed or amended:

It was noted that it was necessary for any Welsh and English documents to arrive at the same time, together with any guidance or booklets.  The Welsh language should not be treated less favourably.

It was noted that any major change required time to prepare for this and appropriate guidance.