The Welsh Government has today launched a consultation seeking
views on plans to ensure all children have access to the full
curriculum including Religious Education and Relationships and
Sexuality Education.
Education Minister has said that she is
‘minded to ensure all children and young people are required to
study RE and RSE in the new curriculum’ as opposed to the current
practice where parents can prevent their children from attending
RE and RSE lessons.
The Welsh Government has now launched an eight-week consultation
on the implications of the decision in schools to gather a broad
range of views before taking a final decision.
Throughout the consultation the Welsh Government will gather
feedback from parent, learners and interested groups across
Wales.
It is also inviting people to share their views through an online
consultation.
Education Minister said: “Our vision is for an
inclusive education system where all learners can participate in,
benefit from and enjoy learning across all subjects.
“Our responsibility as a government is to ensure all young people
access a full curriculum that provides them with knowledge and
skills.
“I am minded to ensure all pupils study RE and RSE in the new
curriculum, just as they will study science, maths and languages.
It has always been an anomaly that children could be prevented
from attending certain subjects. This consultation seeks views on
the practical implications of
dealing with this anomaly.
“Understanding their own rights and the rights of others is
important to the fulfilment of the purposes of the new
curriculum.”
The consultation will provide an opportunity for parents,
teachers, young people and stakeholders to help shape this
important area of policy.
The Minister continued: “Children should be provided with access
to information that keeps them safe from harm and allows them to
navigate the world in which we live. Schools are the safe and
caring environment for pupils to learn together and learn about
each other.
“All teaching is and will be developmentally appropriate, and
parents will be kept informed of what their children will learn.
It must be easy for parents to engage in dialogue with schools
about this and other parts of the curriculum.
“The teaching and learning in each school will be able to draw on
a framework we will provide in guidance.”
The Government is also consulting on a name change for RE,
proposing the new name ‘Religions and Worldviews’.
Explaining the proposed change, said:
“Pupils will explore the range of spiritual, philosophical,
moral, social and cultural beliefs within their community, across
Wales, and throughout the world.
“’Religions and Worldviews’ better reflects teaching practice
within the new curriculum, and allows for the exploration of a
range of religious and philosophical beliefs, as well as other
beliefs and world views, including non-religious world views.”
Viv Laing, policy and public affairs manager for NSPCC
Cymru/Wales, said: “It is vital that all children in Wales learn
about healthy relationships, healthy bodies and how to keep safe,
though expertly-taught mandatory relationships and sexuality
education in schools”
“When delivered as part of a whole school approach, RSE – which
should include age and developmentally appropriate teaching on
all areas of maltreatment – has the potential to help children
develop the knowledge and skills they need to recognise what
constitutes abuse and how to stay safe, as well as giving
children the confidence to speak out about abuse and get the
support they need.”
The consultation launches today at midday and runs until
Thursday, November 28.
