The death of Geoff Hundleby, Suffolk County RE adviser, in a road accident last October was a tragic blow for many RE colleagues. Geoff was due to lecture at Norwich cathedral the week after his death and, only weeks before, had delivered Inset to students at UEA. Geoff was a man of vision and integrity, who worked tirelessly for RE in East Anglia and nationally. I was part of a two-person Advisory team with Geoff for more than 12 years in Suffolk and feel privileged to have worked with him.

Many schools have asked what is happening about the Norfolk Agreed Syllabus. Nothing statutory is changing at present. The 1997 Agreed Syllabus is still in force. Evidence from our schools’ survey suggests it is better to support schools in their current work than to rewrite the Syllabus before there has been a decision from DFES about a national framework.

As RE adviser, I am concentrating on helping schools understand the current requirements. I am providing specific assistance with QCA non-statutory guidance units and beginning to develop a bank of units to help link QCA with the Norfolk Syllabus requirements. See course details below.

We are also working on Foundation stage guidance (see below) and on some revision of the post-16 section of the syllabus.

RE is a legal requirement for Reception pupils within the Foundation Stage unlike other subjects of the National Curriculum. We have funding for teachers to work on Foundation Stage guidance and curriculum materials for Reception.

The guidance will contain helpful material for all Foundation teachers, who are charged with taking account in many different ways of religions and cultures, beliefs and customs as they work through the Early Learning Goals.

Look for special flyers later in the spring announcing presentations of this material for Foundation practitioners during the early days of July. This was planned too late to go into the Inset booklets.

Details of Inset opportunities for RE are now in schools. Courses include:

• Teaching RE at KS1 / Teaching RE at KS2 / Teaching RE at KS3 - repeats of last year’s practical introductions to understanding the Norfolk RE Syllabus.

• School Designed units for R + KS1, KS2, KS3 – 3 courses that look in detail at new School Designed units modelled on the QCA format, including activities, but also advice and resource lists. The units help schools bridge the gap between QCA and the legal requirements of the Norfolk syllabus.

Plans for a new Norfolk web-site to support the planning and of delivery of Collective Worship are now well-developed and the site will go live soon. It will cover such things as: legal requirements for Collective Worship, writing a policy, organising Collective Worship, using visitors and resource details, including books and website links.

More details to follow, including an Inset course (see the Inset booklets).

‘Designing and Timetabling the Primary Curriculum’ – a practical guide for KS1 and 2 is an interesting read for RE subject leaders. Note the following:

• Time recommended for RE at KS1 – 1 hour (i.e. 5%) see p.35

• Time recommended for RE at KS2 – 1.25 hours (i.e. 5%) see p.36

P.34 confirms that these recommendations exclude Collective Worship. It also notes that a full 2 weeks are allowed outside ‘teaching’ time for school events, including religious festivals, so presumably RE time need not be used for things like the ‘Christmas’ play!

New resources:

BBC2 will screen a new Watch series on Christianity for KS1 in March (Mondays 3^rd, 10^th and 17^th, 11.35 to 11.50 am). It will be a useful supplement to work on Christianity, introducing children from Christian backgrounds.

A video, 3 accompanying Big Books and an Activity Book are also available.

This company sells educational resources from around the world. They have an interesting catalogue full of clothes, cooking utensils and religious artefacts. Contact them on 01621 858940 (51, North Street, Maldon, Essex CM9 5HJ).

School visits to Norwich synagogue are run in the summer term from Easter till the end of July. The tour and talk last one hour, either morning or afternoon, and are designed for children from age 8 upwards. Bookings have begun!

Contact: Jack Griffiths on 01603 417810 or George Willson on 01603 616129.

Although based in Suffolk, Suffolk Inter-Faith Resource supports schools across much of East Anglia with a team of tutors representing most faith communities in Suffolk and Norfolk. If you require a contact, then SIFRE may be able to help you on 01473 233447.

Many Norfolk schools visit Norwich, Ely or Walsingham but for those of you in the southern and eastern areas of the county, why not consider a visit to the Education Centre at Bury cathedral. Contact Helen Woodroffe, the Education Officer, on (01284 748731).