Everything you need to know to coordinate SRE
SRE coordinators are vital for the smooth running and effectiveness of SRE in NSW public schools.
SRE coordinators are appointed by their senior minister, and are responsible for leading and pastorally supporting SRE teachers, coordinating classes, communicating with the various stakeholders at the school and church, and maintaining authorisation records.
The guide
The Guide to Primary and Secondary SRE provides a comprehensive summary of everything you need to know about SRE including legislation, policies, requirements for teachers, and Youthworks’ support for SRE coordinators.
Authorisation letter to send to schools
The Authorisation Letter was a new requirement for all SRE arrangements in 2020. This letter replaces the previous SRE Teacher Register form and cross-authorisation forms. It provides the school with all the information they require of your SRE teachers and helpers as well as your approved provider details.
You will need to send the appropriate School Authorisation Letter to the school in Term 1 from the two options below:
a) Anglican Christian SRE
If you coordinate SRE as the only approved provider use this Authorisation Letter for Anglican Christian SRE. The comments on this pre-filled sample letter may assist you.
b) Combined Christian SRE
If you coordinate SRE with other approved providers use this Authorisation Letter for Combined Christian SRE. The comments on these sample letters for combined arrangements may assist you:
pre-filled sample letter for primary school combined arrangements
pre-filled sample letter for high school combined arrangements
The combined arrangement form should be used for all High School SRE arrangements.
Continuation letter
You will need to send a Continuation Letter (Primary), a Continuation Letter (Secondary) or a Change in Arrangement Letter to the school in Term 4 to confirm arrangements for the following year.
How to create SRE recruitment opportunities
The best ways to let potential new teachers know about the many opportunities to serve young people through SRE
Enrolment instructions for families
These translated enrolment instructions are designed to be easy to print locally and then inserted inside WhySRE? brochures for parent information packs at your local school. Talk to your school about when they would require this information so you can be sure to order your brochures and print these flyers early.
Explaining the accreditation process
If a principal requests information about the accreditation process for Anglican SRE teachers, you can give them this SRE Accreditation Confirmation Letter.
Handling complaints
The SRE Complaints Handling Policy outlines the current procedures when a complaint is made against Anglican SRE in the Diocese of Sydney. You should use the SRE Complaints Report Template to document the complaint process and its resolution.
Managing your SRE data file
We have created a how to video that will show you the steps you should take whether adding a new SRE teacher to your parishes data file or updating a teachers information. You will need to email and request the password.
Online Enrolment System and SRE
All schools in NSW have begun to implement an Online Enrolment System (OES) which will manage all aspects of the students schooling, including their SRE participation. It is each school’s responsibility to ensure that the OES is implemented correctly for their parents and community. However, we can bless our local schools by making sure that they have all the correct information as they prepare the OES for their specific needs.
Please send this OES template letter to the school with information for them to include in their OES. You need to add the specific details that match your SRE arrangement (in the same way you adjust the school authorisation letter). You can use this annotated pdf of the template letter to guide you through the process. This letter needs to be emailed or given to both the SRE Coordinator and the Office staff to ensure the information reaches the right hands.
Sensitivity framework
The SRE Sensitivity Framework sets out guidelines for your SRE teachers engaging with sensitive issues in their classes.
The framework has been prepared for the Anglican Diocese of Sydney in consultation with SRE teachers, school counsellors, psychologists and public school leaders.
All Anglican SRE teachers are expected to comply with the framework.
In addition, other SRE providers are requested to conform with the framework when using the authorised curriculum and teaching resources of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney.
SRE Incident Report Template
The SRE Incident Report Template is provided for teachers to record any sensitive issues that may arise in an SRE class.
Suggested text for school websites
The Department of Education requires schools to provide parents and carers with general information about SRE, Special Education in Ethics (SEE) and alternative meaningful activities. This includes a list of the approved SRE and SEE providers working in their school and the curriculum being taught.
It is the role of the SRE coordinator to provide the required information about SRE arrangements to schools for use on their school websites (under religion and ethics) and on their SRE/SEE Participation letter.
Below are a variety of text that you can send to your school(s). The Anglican Diocese of Sydney uses 2 titles for their SRE arrangements: Anglican Christian SRE and Combined Christian SRE.
+ Option 1 / Anglican Christian SRE
FULL VERSION
Anglican Christian SRE is provided by Anglican teachers who are authorised and trained by the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, who are an approved SRE provider. Teachers provide education in Christian beliefs and practices for children in [insert school years at your school]. The SRE curriculum used in this school is produced by Christian Education Publications and is approved by the SRE provider. The curriculum explores the good news about Jesus Christ found in the Bible and the depth of God’s love for people. Each lesson has been developed to be taught in an age-appropriate manner. Lessons include activities which make the lessons fun and inclusive for children and young people, and also give them the opportunity to critically explore and deepen their faith, pray, and reflect. Research has shown that SRE contributes to students’ wholistic education as it nurtures their spiritual wellbeing. For more information about the SRE curriculum used in this school visit whysre.com.au.
SHORT VERSION
Anglican Christian SRE is provided by teachers who are authorised and trained by the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. The curriculum can be viewed at whysre.com.au.
+ Option 2 / Combined Christian SRE using Anglican curriculum
FULL VERSION
Combined Christian SRE is education in Christian beliefs and practices for children of families from various Christian denominations and churches. Combined Christian SRE teachers at this school are authorised and trained by the following approved SRE providers: Anglican Diocese of Sydney, [insert other providers and links to provider websites]. The SRE curriculum used in this school is produced by Christian Education Publications and is approved by each SRE provider. The curriculum explores the good news about Jesus Christ found in the Bible and the depth of God’s love for people. Each lesson has been developed to be taught in an age-appropriate manner. Lessons include activities which make the lessons fun and inclusive for children and young people, and also give them the opportunity to critically explore and deepen their faith, pray, and reflect.
Research has shown that SRE contributes to students’ wholistic education as it nurtures their spiritual wellbeing. For more information about the SRE curriculum used in this school visit whysre.com.au.
SHORT VERSION
Combined Christian SRE is provided by teachers who are authorised and trained by the following approved providers: Anglican Diocese of Sydney [insert other providers and links to provider websites]. The curriculum can be viewed at whysre.com.au.
+ Option 3 / Combined Christian SRE using other approved curriculum
FULL VERSION
Combined Christian SRE is education in Christian beliefs and practices for children of families from various Christian denominations and churches. Christian SRE teachers at this school are authorised and trained by the following approved SRE providers: Anglican Diocese of Sydney, [insert other providers and links to provider websites]. The SRE curriculum used in this school is approved by an SRE provider. The curriculum explores the good news about Jesus Christ found in the Bible and the depth of God’s love for people. Each lesson has been developed to be taught in an age-appropriate manner. Lessons include activities which make the lessons fun and inclusive for children and young people, and also give them the opportunity to critically explore and deepen their faith, pray, and reflect.
Research has shown that SRE contributes to students’ wholistic education as it nurtures their spiritual wellbeing. For more information about the SRE curriculum used in this school visit [insert link to other approved curriculum].
SHORT VERSION
Combined Christian SRE is provided by teachers who are authorised and trained by the following approved providers: Anglican Diocese of Sydney [insert other providers and links to provider websites]. The curriculum can be viewed at [insert link to authorised curriculum].
Why SRE brochures
Order Why SRE brochures to give to your school(s) for handing out during orientation. We invoice for postage costs only on your brochure order.
SRE Coordinators’ Masterclass
Youthworks is so thankful for all you do as SRE Coordinators for SRE. We hope that you can come to one of our annual SRE Coordinators’ Masterclasses. These meetings provide a great opportunity to pray, share experiences, participate in training, and get updates on what is happening in SRE.
Masterclasses will be held during weeks two and three of Term 4 for each region.
North
Thursday 20 October, 2022
10:00am-1:00pm
St Faith’s Narrabeen
5-9 Clarke St, Narrabeen
North
Friday 21 October, 2022
10:00am-1:00pm
Christ Church St Ives
1 Cowan Rd, St Ives
South
Wednesday 26 October, 2022
10:00am-1:00pm
Randwick Anglican Church
106 Avoca St, Randwick
South West
Friday 28 October, 2022
10:00am-1:00pm
Georges Hall Anglican Church
176 Birdwood Rd, Georges Hall
West
Thursday 20 October, 20212
10:00am-1:00pm
Stanhope Anglican Church
1 View St, Stanhope Gardens
West
Friday 21 October, 2022
10:00am-1:00pm
Glenmore Park Anglican Church
16 William Howell Dr, Glenmore Park
Wollongong
Thursday 27 October, 2022
9:00am-12:00pm
Dapto Anglican Church
Moombara St, Dapto
Wollongong
Saturday 29 October, 2022
9:00am-12:00pm
Sylvania Anglican Church
98 Holt Rd, Sylvania Heights
Helping you lead a more effective SRE ministry in your local schools
