Schools

The local authority is responsible for providing a religious education syllabus for use in its schools.  This must be reviewed every five years.  A review of the current syllabus will begin in 2005.

All Maintained and Voluntary Controlled church schools must follow the locally agreed syllabus for religious education.

In Voluntary Aided schools religious education must be taught in accordance with the school's trust deed and ensuring this is the responsibility of the Governors.  Religious education and collective worship in Maintained schools are inspected by Ofsted under statutory arrangements.

Religious education in Voluntary Controlled church schools is inspected by Ofsted while the collective worship is inspected under Section 23 by an inspector appointed, usually with advice from the Diocese of Oxford, by the Governors.  Religious education and collective worship in Voluntary Aided church schools is inspected under Section 23 by an inspector appointed, usually with advice from the appropriate diocese, by the Governors.