NSW public schools offer special religious education and special education in ethics, delivered by approved providers wherever available.
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.
Special religious education
Students at Gymea North Public School attend weekly Special Religious Education (SRE) lessons taught by volunteers from our local community. These volunteers are authorised representatives of approved religious groups. Presently, there are SRE classes for Protestant, Catholic and Greek Orthodox faiths.
Our Scripture teachers access their curriculum and resources from:
Protestant: https://godspace.org.au/curriculum/sre-ri-curriculum/
https://cepconnect.com.au/curriculum
Greek Orthodox: http://www.greekorthodox.org.au/?page_id=3854
Catholic: https://ccd.sydneycatholic.org/publications/curriculum-resources/
If you wish to withdraw your child/ren from SRE classes please advise the school in writing.
Special education in Ethics
Ethics classes support children to develop a life-long capacity for making well-reasoned decisions about ethical issues. Through the give-and-take of reasoned argument students learn to disagree respectfully, to challenge ideas and to support their arguments with considered evidence rather than according to habit or peer pressure. Our volunteer ethics teachers, which are trained members of the school and broader community, use detailed lesson materials which present a range of stories, scenarios and questions to generate discussion. Ethics teachers are trained to impartially facilitate student discussions, helping students develop their critical thinking and collaborative inquiry skills. Ethics teachers support student learning by:
modelling the inquiry process – by asking questions and encouraging discussion
showing genuine curiosity and interest in the questions being discussed
staying neutral – ethics teachers are trained to keep their own views out of the discussion
creating a positive learning environment – by allowing students time to think, and encouraging students to share ideas and give reasons
For more information visit https://primaryethics.com.au/our-curriculum/