Information for Schools

The validation of school Religious Education Programs is a key component of the implementation of the Religious Education Curriculum, Archdiocese of Brisbane.

CONTEXT

The REV process is designed to ensure that each Archdiocesan school has a documented, high quality RE Program, developed in accordance with the Religious Education Curriculum, which clearly identifies practices and processes that have the most positive impact on each student’s progress, religious literacy and faith formation.

CONTEXT

There are four principal audiences for a school Religious Education Program: teaching staff, parents, students and the authority delegated by the Archbishop for the supervision of Religious Education in the Archdiocese of Brisbane (BCEO).

CONTEXT

The REV process applies to all Archdiocesan schools. Schools have three years (2014 – 2016) in which to submit their program for validation.

CONTEXT

…how your school is responsive to the needs and religious backgrounds of students and contemporary contexts for learning …

… how your school aligns the two dimensions of religious education according to the Model for Religious Education …

PURPOSE

…how RE in your school is consistent with whole school approaches to high quality learning and teaching across all learning areas …

… how student progress and achievement in Religion are monitored to ensure high expectations for each student …

PURPOSE

…how your school promotes excellence and equity in the Religion classroom through teaching that is visible, engaging and transformative …

… how RE teachers in your school are appropriately qualified, accredited and working in authentic relationships for quality learning and teaching …

PURPOSE

… how your school uses data to evaluate the impact teaching has on each student’s progress, religious literacy and faith formation …

PURPOSE

The Religious Education Curriculum refers to the document, Religious Education Curriculum, Archdiocese of Brisbane (2013), which has been promulgated for use by the Archbishop of Brisbane in all Archdiocesan schools. It is the authoritative source document for both the Religion Curriculum P-12 and the Religious Life of the School P-12.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CURRICULUM

The School Religious Education Program documents how the school provides the entitlement of each student to knowledge, understanding and skills in Religious Education consistent with the Vision for Religious Education. The starting place and primary reference point for the design and development of the school’s Religious Education Program is the approved curriculum: Religious Education Archdiocese of Brisbane (2013).

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM

The schools and colleges of the Archdiocese of Brisbane aspire to educate and form students who are challenged to live the gospel of Jesus Christ and who are literate in the Catholic and broader Christian tradition so that they might participate critically and authentically in faith contexts and wider society.

VISION

ConsistencyThe key criteria for the validation will be consistent with the expectations of school curriculum planning, which form part of the BCE Learning and Teaching Framework.

KEY PRINCIPLES

Collective Capacity BuildingThe process used will be based on a peer validation model involving Religious Education Services (RES) staff, APRE and School Implementation Team (SIT) members.

KEY PRINCIPLES

SubsidiarityThe school Religious Education Program is an evolving document and any significant future changes made following validation can be negotiated through the appointed Education Officer Religious Education (EORE) operating as delegate of the Archbishop. Regular professional dialogue with the EORE is part of the ongoing monitoring and review of the program.

KEY PRINCIPLES

TransparencyThe school Religious Education Program will be documented online and made available to key stakeholders: teaching staff, parents, students and the delegated authority (BCEO).

KEY PRINCIPLES

RenewalReview and/or validation processes will operate in alignment with school renewal processes and existing structures for promoting consistency of teacher judgement, as well as in response to significant national or system curriculum initiatives..

KEY PRINCIPLES

Online advice seeking validationFormal letter from the PEO REPreliminary visit from EOREInformation sessionOngoing support from EOREREV day/ValidationFormal letter from the Executive Director

PROCESS

SCHOOL TEAM

APRE and nominated School Implementation Team members

PVGsSt Bart’s St Maggie’s St Ned’s

PVG PROCESSPRESENT (40 minutes)School Team A present their school Religious Education Program to the other School Teams (B & C) in the Peer Validation Group.

DISCUSS AND DELIBERATE (30 minutes)School Team A - Morning Tea BreakThe Chair (EORE) facilitates a panel deliberation session with School Teams B and C, discussing how the established criteria for validation have been met. A draft panel report is written.

FEEDBACK (30 minutes)School Team A rejoins their PVG. The Chair (EORE) leads a feedback session. The school program is validated, validated pending adjustments or not validated based on the set criteria. The draft validation report is completed, with recommendation to Executive Director of validation status.

REV DAYfrom 9.00am Tea/Coffee and Breakfast Bites

Preparation Time(technology check)

9.30am Welcome and Gathering PrayerProtocols for the Day

9.55am School Teams will gather and form Peer Validation Groups

(PVG)

10.00am PVGs: three-phase process. Round One11.40am Communal Break (all PVGs)

REV DAY11.50am Preparation Time (technology check)

12.00noon PVGs: three-phase process. Round Two

1.40pm Communal Break (All PVGs)

2.00pm Preparation Time (technology check)

2.10pm PVGs: three-phase process. Round Three

3.50pm End of Day

Upload program

Draft validation report completed

by Validation Panel

Formal Letter of

Validation from ED

Pre-visit checklist completed with

Education Officer RE

The key criteria for validation are consistent with the expectations of school curriculum planning. The criteria encompass four elements and are framed within three aligned levels: whole school; year level; and class/individual student level.

ValidationCriteria

The school Religious Education Program needs to meet the established criteria to be successfully validated. How each school elects to meet the criteria will vary, because of the school context. Key stakeholders need to be considered when designing, developing and documenting the program online.

ValidationCriteria

VALIDATION CRITERIA:ELEMENTS

1. Students and CommunityThe school’s Religious Education Program is responsive to the needs and religious backgrounds of students and the

contemporary contexts for learning in the Religion classroom.

VALIDATION CRITERIA:ELEMENTS

2. Curriculum Structure and OrganisationThe school’s Religious Education Program articulates a Catholic view of learning

and teaching and is structured around the Model for Religious Education.

VALIDATION CRITERIA:ELEMENTS

3 High Quality Learning and Teaching The school’s Religious Education Program is consistent with whole school

approaches to teaching and learning across the curriculum. It identifies how these

approaches are developed, communicated, supported and reviewed.

VALIDATION CRITERIA:ELEMENTS

4. Monitoring and EvaluationThe school’s Religious Education Program outlines

how student progress and achievement are monitored to ensure high expectations for each student. It identifies how data is used to evaluate current practice and inform decision making and action related to the classroom teaching of Religion and the religious life of the school.

“In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to the other eyes as mine see it. “

- Michaelangelo, 1475 - 1564

ValidationCriteria