NSW public schools offer special religious education and special education in ethics, delivered by approved providers wherever available.
At Kearns Public School, SRE is delivered each Tuesday from 12:20 pm – 12:50 pm for K-2 students and from 12:50 pm – 1:20 pm for Years 3-6 students.
On enrolment, parents/carers will be given the SRE participation letter (see attachment below) to complete and return.
Religious instruction is provided in the following three religions:
· Catholic
· Islamic
· Protestant (which incorporates Anglican, Uniting, Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregational)
Catholic SRE is provided by the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong. Catholic SRE teachers (also known as Catechists) are authorised by the local parish and trained by the Diocese of the Catholic Church.
The Catholic SRE curriculum ia approved by the Bishop of the Diocese in liaison with religious education experts. Lessons include activities that are fun and inclusive for all students, whilst also providing them the opportunity to critically explore in depth their faith and to pray and reflect. For more information about the Catholic SRE curriculum go to Catholic SRE Diocese of Wollongong.
Authorised Provider of Catholic SRE
Islamic SRE
The Islamic Council of NSW (ICNSW) is the authorised body through the Department of Education and Communities to provide Islamic Special Religious Education (ISRE) lessons to Muslim students in NSW Public Schools.
Authorised Provider of Islamic SRE
Protestant SRE
Special Religious Education (SRE) plays a vital role in the holistic education of children, helping them form personal moral and ethical frameworks and nurturing their faith while at school. For many children, it is the only opportunity they’ll have to explore the scriptures and have their spiritual questions answered from the Bible.
SRE Protestant curriculum overview
Authorised Provider of Protestant SRE
Non-Scripture is available for those students not wishing to participant in religious lessons. During the time that SRE classes are being held, students not attending will be located in a separate space and will participate in meaningful activities provided with supervised activities that do not compete with SRE and are not lessons in the curriculum. Suitable activities may include reading, private study, completing assigned tasks or other activities.
During enrolment, you can choose a special religious education option for your child from the school’s available approved providers. You can withdraw your child from special religious education by selecting alternative meaningful activities, or special education in ethics if it’s available.
You can update your preference by writing to the school or through the online form available at participating schools.
Visit the department’s website for more information about religion and ethics.