Reason for the decision:
The Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, in giving effect to the Agreed Syllabus Conference recommendation would allow the Local Authority to fulfil its duty to review and provide a locally agreed syllabus for religious education.
Background:
The Local Authority is required to revise its Locally Agreed Syllabus for RE at least every five years. The current Kent RE syllabus was introduced in September 2017 and was therefore due to be reviewed in 2022. Further to the requirements set out in Section 375 and Schedule 31 of the Education Act 1996, the formal review was undertaken by the Kent Agreed Syllabus Conference in May 2022. The Conference unanimously agreed to recommend renewing the RE Today Model A+ syllabus licence for a further five years.
Options (other options considered but discarded):
The Agreed Syllabus Conference Members noted that the resources required to independently write a new syllabus would outweigh the costs involved with the license renewal.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Affects more than two Electoral Divisions;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: (All Division);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 31/05/2022
Decision due: Not before 29th Jun 2022 by Cabinet Member for Education and Skills
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Education and Skills
Lead director: Benjamin Watts
Contact: Joel Cook, Democratic Services Manager Phone number: 03000416892 Email: joel.cook@kent.gov.uk Tel: 03000 416892.
Consultees
An update report was considered by the Children’s and Young People Cabinet Committee on 10 May 2022. A further update report was discussed at the Children’s and Young People Cabinet Committee on 19 July 2022.
Financial implications: The costs of the Agreed Syllabus, if approved, will be met from within existing budgets.
Legal implications: The adoption of a revised locally agreed syllabus fulfils the duty under Section 375 and Schedule 31 of the Education Act 1996 to review syllabi periodically.
Equalities implications: An Equality Impact Assessment has been produced and no adverse impacts were identified during the assessment.