ABSTRACT
If you began your initial teacher training in the late 1990s, the likelihood is that you will have been in primary school when the 1988 Education Reform Act was passed. In the early 1990s, the impact of the then new National Curriculum on teachers was such that working to fulfil requirements in subjects had to be prioritized; very often Religious Education was at the bottom of the list, not being part of the National Curriculum (see Chapter 1 for more details). National Curriculum subjects had guidelines, curriculum folders, inservice training, curriculum advisers, teacher assessments, and some even had SATs (Standard Assessment Tasks); RE had locally Agreed Syllabuses: all these subjects needed urgent and significant changes in response to new requirements. Enquiry Task
What was your experience of Religious Education in the primary school you attended?
At the time, were you aware of any changes being made in the teaching of RE?
How would you describe your teacher’s attitude to RE?
What effect do you think your previous experience is likely to have on the way you approach the teaching of RE with your class?
