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Strategic Plan: 2011- 2016
[Adopted by the Board at its meeting on 21 September 2011]
[Download PDF version here]
Vision
Every young person experiences a personally inspiring and academically rigorous education in religious and non-religious worldviews.
Values
The REC seeks to work in a way that embodies values of cooperation, collaboration, openness, mutual respect and critical engagement.
Role of the RE Council
Working with and through its member bodies to encourage commonality of purpose and a coherent
approach to the support, development and practice of RE, the RE Council seeks to:
- Act as a national forum for all who share matters of common concern in promoting the highest possible standards of RE in all schools, colleges and universities
- Be a clear national voice for RE: for advocacy, support and improvement of RE
- Influence policy and liaise proactively with government and other national and international bodies on RE
- Promote a clear, positive image and public understanding of RE
- Represent at a strategic level the collective interests of its member bodies in relation to RE
Strategic Objectives for 2011-2016
1. To promote high quality teaching, learning and assessment in RE
2. To influence the development of public policy and public understanding of RE
3. To promote a coherent professional development strategy for RE
4. To secure adequate and sustainable resources for the REC
5. To secure effective structures and operation for the REC.
(Although numbered, these objectives and their targets should be seen as running concurrently; the numbering does not imply any priority)
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Religious Education Council | Strategic Plan 2011 - 2016 | Objective 1: To promote high quality teaching, learning and assessment in RE
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Targets
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Planned Outcomes
Success criteria/evaluation
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Lead
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Timescale
Start/finish
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Resources
Budget/time
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1.1 Establish a REC Curriculum, Assessment and Qualifications committee (CAQC)
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- REC's CAQC established and programme of dates/activity in place, terms of reference and membership identified
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REC Board
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Sept 2011
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Committee expenses
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1.2 Review the rationale, nature and place of RE in the curriculum
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- Statement published and used for PR purposes
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CAQC
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Sept/Dec 2011
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Meeting expenses
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1.3 Monitor plans for Curriculum Review in England and carry out parallel process for RE
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- REC led, publicly funded, curriculum review of RE initiated
- Review process designed and initiated
- RE curriculum review published
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REC Board
Project Group
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2011 -(tbc)
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Officer time
Project costs
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1.4 Establish productive links with national organisations and awarding bodies responsible for assessment and qualifications
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- Link with Ofqual established
- Contacts with awarding bodies established
- Developing professional dialogue with each organisation
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CAQC
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Sep-Dec 2011
2012-2016
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Officer time
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1.5 Monitor statistics and standards in public examinations in RE
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- System in place for collection and analysis of evidence
- Annual digest of data shared with member organisations
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CAQC/
member bodies
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2012-2016
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Research costs
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Religious Education Council | Strategic Development Plan 2011 - 2016 | Objective 2: To influence the development of public policy and understanding of RE
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Targets
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Planned Outcomes
Success criteria/evaluation
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Lead
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Timescale
Start/finish
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Resources
Budget/time
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2.1 Maintain productive relations with the Department for Education and other relevant government departments
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- Pattern of regular meetings with SoS/ministers + department officials established
- Productive relations established with all govt. departments involving RE
- REC consulted when appropriate
- Evidence of REC influence on policy and operational matters
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REC Board
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2011-16
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Meeting expenses
Officer time
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2.2 Develop effective relations with relevant government agencies and similar bodies
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- Pattern of regular meetings with Ofsted established
- Established links leading to regular meetings with agencies
- REC consulted when appropriate
- Evidence of REC influence on policy and operational matters
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REC Board
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2011-16
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Meeting expenses
Officer time
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2.3 Build on current contacts to extend political influence
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- Regularly maintained political contacts list
- Meetings with those on contacts list
- All Party Parliamentary Group for RE established
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PR Committee
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2011-16
2012
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Meeting expenses
Consultancy costs
Set-up costs
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2.4 Maintain effective contact with Local Authorities and otherschool providers
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- Effectiveness and vibrancy of SACREs monitored/enhanced
- Key local government policymakers identified
- Effective links with LGA and key local government policymakers and other school providers established
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NASACRE/
PR committee
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2011-16
2012-13
2012-13
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Meeting expenses
Officer time
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2.5 Achieve positive presentation of RE in wide range of media
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- Extension of existing contacts and channels, including social media
- Regular flow of stories placed in key media
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PR Committee
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2011-12
2012-13
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PR consultancy costs
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2.6 Enter into effective dialogue with key school decision makers
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- Key groupings identified eg HTs, governors, parents, unions
- Appointment of external relations officer (part time)
- Effective links established and maintained
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PR Committee
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2011-12
2012
2012-16
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Meeting expenses
Officer costs
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Religious Education Council | Strategic Plan 2011 - 2016 | Objective 3: To promote a coherent professional development strategy for RE
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Targets
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Planned Outcomes
Success criteria/evaluation
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Lead
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Timescale
Start/finish
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Resources
Budget/time
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3.1 Establish a Professional Development Committee (PDC)
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- PDC established and programme of dates/activity in place, terms of reference and membership identified
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REC Board
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Sept 2011
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Committee expenses
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3.2 Encourage collaboration between Professional Development (PD) providers
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- Coherent provision of PD mapped out: geographically, range of topics, career progression etc.
- Steps taken to encourage involvement of SACREs, HEIs, dioceses, professional bodies
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PDC
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2011-12
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Meeting expenses
Officer time
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3.3 Establish an easily accessible on line portal for PD provision
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- Coherent map of PD and accreditation opportunities outlined on portal/virtual RE centre, from initial teacher education through to MA and PhD level and including the needs of non-specialist teachers
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PDC
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2011-12
Annually
By end 2012
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Development costs
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3.4 Enable effective REsilience transition: development of materials and modes of delivering PD
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- REsilience development group action plan in place
- Piloting of activities to develop products
- Evaluations to REC Board
- Outcomes used to develop further models of provision
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Joyce Miller and steering group
REC Board
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July- Dec 2011
Dec 2011
Jan 2012
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£30K
Normal meetings
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3.5 Disseminate RE CPD eHandbook
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- eHandbook well known and used by RE professionals
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PDC
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By July 2012
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New grant funding
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Religious Education Council | Strategic Plan 2011 - 2016 | Objective 4: To secure adequate and sustainable resources for the REC
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Targets
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Planned Outcomes
Success criteria/evaluation
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Lead
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Timescale
Start/finish
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Resources
Budget/time
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4.1 Establish a Resources Committee (RC)
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- RC established and programme of dates/activity in place, terms of reference and membership identified
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REC Board
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Sept 2011
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Committee expenses
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4.2 Draft business plan and budget proposal for 2012-16
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- Base level funding requirement established
- Potential sources of income, earned and other, identified
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FC
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2012-2016
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Meeting expenses
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4.3 Develop a fundraising strategy.
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- Maintenance and development activities securely funded
- Patrons/trusts/friends identified
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FC
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Sept 2011
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Consultant fees
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4.4 Engage in fundraising activities
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- Responsibility for fundraising and setting targets identified
- Endowment/trust funding secured
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FC
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By March 2012
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Fundraising costs
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4.5 Explore feasibility for the REC of earning income
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- Policy and guidelines on bidding for project funding agreed
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FC
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By March 2013
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Meeting expenses
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4.6 Consider the options for individual support for the REC
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- Associate status scheme considered
- Additional income options considered
- Wider support opportunities explored
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REC Board
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2012-13
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Normal meetings
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Religious Education Council | Strategic Plan 2011 - 2016 | Objective 5: To review the
structures and operation of the REC
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Targets
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Planned Outcomes
Success criteria/evaluation
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Lead
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Timescale
Start/finish
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Resources
Budget/time
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5.1 Establish a Governance Committee (GC)
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- GC established and programme of dates/activity in place, terms of reference and membership identified
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REC Board
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Sept 2011
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Committee expenses
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5.2 Review the Memorandum and Articles
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- M and As revised, having addressed difficult issues including:
o Membership criteria
o Operational year
o Voting procedures
o Board membership
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Deborah Weston
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2011-12
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Legal costs
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5.3 Review structures and operation of the REC
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- More efficient and effective working established
- Adequate staffing secured
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GC
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2011-12
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Meeting expenses
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5.4 Conduct a review of ways of achieving closer working relations between the member organisations of the REC.
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- Agreed pattern of closer working relations established
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REC Board
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2011-12
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Consultant costs
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5.5 Enable representatives of all REC member bodies to participate effectively within the Council
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- Effective induction procedures and system of support for all Council representatives in place
- Barriers to participation identified and removed
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GC
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2012-13
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Meeting expenses
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5.6 Maintain REC website at appropriate standard for a contemporary education organisation
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- Existing website upgraded, including increased functionality improved design and rationalisation of REC owned websites
- System in place for frequent review and updating of content
- System in place for Improved interaction with member bodies and external organisations
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REC Board
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2011-12
2011-16
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Consultant costs
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5.7 Facilitate collaboration on provision and access to RE resources on internet
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- Establishment of publicity initiative to promote benefits to all existing web resource providers of common web portal for RE community (provided by member body/ies)
- Web portal widely used by RE community
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REC Board
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2011-12
2013-16
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Officer time
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The RE Council predates the devolution of education in Wales to the Welsh Assembly Government.
The Council works across England and Wales, and in this strategic plan, references to the quality of RE and to links with national organisations, including awarding bodies, may be taken to refer to both England and Wales as appropriate.
Where reference is made to systems and structures, the plan should be understood as referring to the education system in England unless otherwise stated. |
Strategic Plan 
