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.
Scripture at Jesmond Public School
At Jesmond Public School, Special Religious Education (SRE), is normally delivered on Thursday from 2.00-2.30pm.
On enrolment, parents/carers are given the SRE participation letter to complete and return. After the initial enrolment, notification of changes to a child's enrolment in SRE should be given to the office, in writing.
The following SRE classes are offered at Jesmond Public School:
Christian Scripture:
SRE teachers from different Christian denominations and churches provide Christian SRE. The approved providers in this combined arrangement are Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT and Anglican Diocese of Newcastle. All Christian SRE teachers are authorised and trained by an approved provider.
The Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT and Anglican Diocese of Newcastle authorise the Christian SRE curriculum. The curriculum is based on GODSPACE, which is a program about Jesus Christ and learning the key elements of Christian life and culture. More information can be found at
https://godspace.org.au/curriculum/#scope-and-sequence
Christian SRE engages students in conversations as they question life, explore values and discover faith.
Islamic Scripture:
Islamic Special Religious Education are the providers for Islam
Scripture classes in NSW Public Schools are a part of the biggest Islamic education project in Australia. The ISRE lessons provide a specifically tailored Islamic education program for Muslim students from Kindergarten through to Year 12. The program is designed to teach Muslim students the basics of Islam, nurture them to develop a strong sense of identity and purpose and inspire them to lead productive lives by contributing positively to themselves, their communities, their society and the world. The ISRE program is non-sectarian and is provided to all Muslims students, regardless of their sectarian groupings. The aim of ISRE is to teach students to love, learn and live Islam.
For more information contact the school or visit their website www.isre.org.au.
Scope and sequence can be found on approved provider's websites.
For more information about Special Religious Education (SRE) and including the list of approved providers and the Special Religious Education (SRE) Department of Education Policy please visit https://educlearning/curriculum/learning-across-the-curriculum/religion.
During this time that SRE classes are being held, students not participating will not have access to any academic instruction or formal school activites. Non-attendees will be provided with supervised meaningful activites. This could include reading, private study or homework. They are in a seperate space from SRE classses and supervised by school staff.