The RE Quality Mark Background information for local

The RE Quality Mark Background information for local groups and assessors Linda Rudge, REQM manager March 2019

What is the RE Quality Mark? The RE Quality Mark (REQM) is an accreditation system which recognises good practice in religious education. It is designed to be a mechanism for whole school improvement beyond religious education since its principle focus is enhanced pedagogy. The REQM is available to all schools (state and independent) including academies and schools with a religious character or foundation. The REQM is provided and administered by the REC and is managed by Linda Rudge, supported by the REC administrator with regular advice from the REC’s CEO, and the REC’s Education Committee.

The Purpose of REQM is: v To raise the profile of religious education in schools v To celebrate a commitment to excellence in religious education v To provide a framework for measuring, planning and developing the quality of RE teaching and learning v To encourage schools to increase the range and quality of teaching and learning in religious education to improve standards v To develop pedagogies which have impact on whole school improvement

The Purpose of REQM is: v To enable the dissemination of quality RE through networking v To enable schools to maintain RE’s position in the curriculum v To provide a structure and framework for SACRES (and other monitoring bodies) to map high quality religious education

Other Quality Marks for Schools… v http: //www. history. org. uk/secondary/categories/quality-mark v http: //www. qm-alliance. co. uk/The-award/Theaward. html v http: //glp. globaldimension. org. uk/page/10559 v http: //www. inclusionmark. co. uk/ v http: //www. ase. org. uk/professional-development/primaryscience-quality-mark-psqm/ v http: //www. geography. org. uk/cpdevents/qualitymarks/primary qualitymark/ v https: //www. smscqualitymark. org. uk/ Main differences – REQM’s free access and ‘light-touch’ process

How the RE Quality Mark works Schools apply for the award at one of three levels The award is valid for three years A school can reapply at any time for the next level within that period

Five strands The areas of evidence that schools gather for the award process are covered by: • Learners and Learning • Teachers and Teaching • Curriculum • Subject Leadership • Continuing Professional Development

The Award Process v Schools apply for the REQM through the website and trained assessors will visit their school to validate the quality mark at the appropriate level v There are no pre-visit submissions or post visit reports v Assessors complete a record form to confirm the award with the REC office v Schools provide feedback to REQM on the quality of their experience v Certificates and e-ribbons are sent to the school and announcements are made on social media and the website v Schools can usually attend a free or subsidised conference event during the year either nationally or in their local area

Quality Assurance v Standards of awards are moderated at assessor training sessions during the year v Assessors operate under contracts to the REC governed by a professional code of practice v The project manager undertakes at least two assessments during the year v The project manager also moderates two or three visits with colleagues through ‘shadow assessments' using the Code of Practice as the criteria for moderation of assessor standards v The manager’s role is reviewed by the REC’s CEO

v http: //www. reqm. org to find out more, including the names of award schools and their feedback v The award holders’ MAP is a helpful tool to identify schools in your local hub area

Proposed Changes 2018 -19 will see some developments for REQM v Some ‘market’ research and impact studies have taken place v GROWTH is a key objective v A team of reviewers are looking at the award to recommend any updates to the criteria v Some additional forms of QA/monitoring will be piloted v Links between REQM and other national/local RE initiatives will be reinforced e. g. through conferencing and other events

‘Going for Gold’ EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES for your school or local hub meeting: 1. Using the handout on the comparison of award levels (section 2 of the REQM school evidence form), please look at key features delineating the different awards at the borderline. v What constitutes good evidence of the SILVER REQM (key points)? v What constitutes good evidence of GOLD REQM (key points)?

2. Invite a local Gold Award school (or more) to a meeting to share their REQM story with other colleagues/schools. Focus the discussion on the journey from ‘Bronze to Gold’. 3. Ask colleagues to support each other in identifying where their school is currently placed against the criteria. 4. Always feel free to ask for advice from linda@reqm. org

Comments from schools The RE Mark has raised the profile of all that we do. We are already very RE centred but is has raised even more awareness across the staff about how it encompasses all that we do and all that we are about. Primary RE subject leader The REQM made us realise the importance of the role we can play in the local community, both in terms of developing dialogue and promoting the value of RE. These are all things we have done in the past, but the REQM served as a timely reminder that these aspects of an excellent RE department also ultimately result in an improved experience for our pupils. Gold award winning school