e) The Extended Religious Education Team

The members of the extended Religious Education team assist the Principal Teacher / Coordinator in the delivery of Religious Education in the classroom. The team will normally consist mainly of ‘generalist’ teachers of Religious Education, but in most cases will also involve at least one other ‘specialist’ teacher in addition to the Principal Teacher. Generalist teachers will have the Catholic Certificate in Religious Education, normally administered and awarded by the Faculty of Education at Glasgow University; specialist teachers will have obtained a specialist Teaching Qualification in Religious Education, recognised as such by the General Teaching Council for Scotland.
(Note: Teachers require one of these two professional qualifications to teach Religious Education in a Catholic school in Scotland.)

Members of the extended Religious Education team constitute a vital and valued resource in ensuring that Religious Education is a stimulating and rewarding experience for students of all ages.

Within a Catholic school Religious Education teachers do not only teach and facilitate learning; they also act as witnesses to faith. As such, they are challenged to live out in their own lives the values and truths contained in the content of the Religious Education programme. Hence, teachers of Religious Education, including supply teachers and those covering for absent staff, should be practising Catholics.

Religious Education teachers have the same responsibility for learning and teaching as teachers in other subjects. Hence, the normal pattern of planning, teaching, recording, reporting and evaluation should be evident in Religious Education. Students have a right to high quality learning and teaching in all curricular areas; as a core subject Religious Education is no exception.

It is recognised that in all schools the delivery of Religious Education is facilitated by the involvement of generalist teachers. As indicated above, special arrangements will need to be in place to provide sufficient support and staff development to ensure the highest possible quality of learning and teaching.