Secondary Religious Education
Term 1 - Monday, 9 March
(PHRIS Activity Code: 2001-1980-8)
Term 2 - Friday, 15 May
(PHRIS Activity Code: Group A - 2001-1980-11, Group B - 2001-1980-12, Group C - 2001-1980-13)
Term 3 - Friday, 24 July
(PHRIS Activity Code: 2001-1980-9)
Term 4 - Friday, 6 November
(PHRIS Activity Code: 2001-1980-10)
The REC’s Professional Learning Communities (Secondary) is based on research by Hord (1997) indicating that for “staff, being part of a professional learning community reduces teacher isolation, increases commitment to the mission and goals of the school, creates shared responsibility for the total development of students, creates powerful learning that defines good teaching and classroom practice, and enhances understanding of course content and teacher roles”. Research by Thompson, Gregg and Niska (2015) indicate a correlation between effective professional learning communities and development of leadership capabilities for those holding such positions in schools. As such, the RECs’ PLCs will provide RECs with the opportunity to participate in professional learning and dialogue targeted to their specific professional needs in the area of religious education and evangelisation.
Venues:
Terms 1, 3 and 4 - Clancy/Gilroy at the WSO (Level 23, 680 George Street, Sydney).
Term 2 - Group A: Domremy College, Five Dock | Group B: Holy Spirit Catholic College, Lakemba | Group C: Bethany College, Hurstville
Time: 8.45 a.m. (for 9.00 a.m. start) - 3.30 p.m.
Registration: Please register via PHRIS (login to your PHRIS account > Self Service > Learning and Development > Learning > Search Catalog > Advanced Search).
Funding: System release funding is not available for this event.
Cost: All event costs are covered by Sydney Catholic Schools.*
Accreditation: Each PLC day will contribute 5 hours for RE Currency under the requirements of the ‘Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead in Sydney Catholic Schools’ policy.
Professional Standards Addressed:
6.3.2 - Contribute to collegial discussions and apply constructive feedback from colleagues to improve professional knowledge and practice.
7.4.2 - Participate in professional and community networks and forums to broaden knowledge and improve practice.
Contact: Anthony Munro 0407 843 976 or anthony.munro@scs.catholic.edu.au.
*Cancellation Fees: Participants withdrawing from this event must provide at least 7 days notice prior to the start of the event, otherwise schools will be liable to pay the related event costs in full.
To be determined upon the release of the CSSA Trial HSC Examination Timetable
(PHRIS Activity Code: TBA)
This workshop is for Year 12, Stage 6 Studies of Religion teachers. It will allow teachers to understand and participate in assessment moderation activities to support consistent and comparable judgements of student learning using CSSA HSC Trial Examination scripts.
The marking session will be led by experienced HSC markers. Actual CSSA trial scripts will be used to moderate and collaboratively explore consistent and comparable judgements of students’ work.
Through a collaborative process of marking student scripts, each teacher will develop an improved understanding of what constitutes an exemplar script and be able to give constructive and effective feedback to their students about their achievement relative to their learning goals.
Venue: TBA
Time: 9.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m.
Registration: Please register via PHRIS (login to your PHRIS account > Self Service > Learning and Development > Learning > Search Catalog > Advanced Search).
Funding: One day of release funding is available for one participant per school.
Cost: All event costs are covered by Sydney Catholic Schools.
Accreditation: Completing this professional development day will contribute 5 hours for RE Currency under the requirements of the ‘Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead in Sydney Catholic Schools’ policy.
Professional Standards Addressed:
5.2.2 - Provide timely, effective and appropriate feedback to students about their achievement relative to their learning goals.
5.3.2 - Understand and participate in assessment moderation activities to support consistent and comparable judgements of student learning.
Limit: 50 participants
Contact: Anthony Munro on 0407 843 976 or anthony.munro@scs.catholic.edu.au.
*Cancellation Fees: Participants withdrawing from this event must provide at least 7 days notice prior to the start of the event, otherwise schools will be liable to pay the related event costs in full.
Day 1 (Stage 4): Wednesday, 27 May
(PHRIS Activity Code: 2001-2819-1)
Day 2 (Stage 5): Wednesday, 18 November
(PHRIS Activity Code: 2001-2819-2)
Schools are encouraged to invite teachers who have already received introductory formation in Catholic liberal arts, such as through a Liberal Arts Strand Day or similar professional learning. The Term 2 and Term 4 Enrichment Days will share the same core content, with both designed to strengthen a Catholic liberal arts approach in Religious Education in ways that are clear, practical, and aligned with curriculum.
The difference between the days will be in the strategies: Enrichment Day 1 (27 May 2026) will be oriented to Stage 4 RE, while Enrichment Day 2 (18 November 2026) will be oriented to Stage 5 RE. Schools will benefit by sending a different staff member to each of the days.
Purpose:
strengthen teacher confidence in using Catholic liberal arts in RE
clarify the ‘why’ of Catholic liberal arts
support teachers to choose strong resources and design sound learning
Key focuses:
Catholic liberal arts is more than adding “classical” resources
it deepens RE through knowledge, thinking and communication
it helps students attend to what is worth knowing, think in the light of faith and reason, and express what they have come to understand
it begins in wonder, is ordered to wisdom through truth, beauty and goodness, and bears fruit in witness
Outcome:
Teachers should leave with:
clearer understanding of Catholic liberal arts in RE
stronger judgement in choosing resources
greater confidence in designing learning for Religious Education
Venue: Assisi Centre (St Joachim's Parish, 3 Keating St, Lidcombe).
Time: 8.45 a.m. (for 9.00 a.m. start) - 3.30 p.m.
Registration: Please register via PHRIS (login to your PHRIS account > Self Service > Learning and Development > Learning > Search Catalog > Advanced Search).
Funding: One day release funding is available for one participant per school.
Cost: All event costs are covered by Sydney Catholic Schools.
Accreditation: Completing this professional development day will contribute 5 hours for RE Currency under the requirements of the ‘Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead in Sydney Catholic Schools’ policy.
Professional Standards Addressed:
3.3.2 - Select and use relevant teaching strategies to develop knowledge, skills, problem-solving, and critical and creative thinking.
6.2.2 - Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.
6.3.2 - Contribute to collegial discussions and apply constructive feedback from colleagues to improve professional knowledge and practice
Limit: 50 participants
Contact: Christopher Hayman on 0448 335 902 or christopher.hayman@scs.catholic.edu.au.
*Cancellation Fees: Participants withdrawing from this event must provide at least 7 days notice prior to the start of the event, otherwise schools will be liable to pay the related event costs in full.
*This event is open to teachers new or returning to Secondary Religious Education.
(PHRIS Activity Code: 2001-2346-2)
Tuesday, 17 February
This session is designed to equip practitioners new or returning to the subject area with an understanding of the Sydney Catholic Schools Religious Education Curriculum in Stages 4 and 5. Participants will become familiar with the design of the Archdiocesan Religious Education curriculum and be equipped to further engage with this curriculum within the context of their schools. The Australian Professional Standard 2.1.2 for teachers will be addressed in this event.
There will be an opportunity to hear from experts in RE curriculum, participate in discussion and workshop activities designed to enhance content knowledge and broaden teaching strategies to more fully engage students in the area of Religious Education. Participants will also work with the syllabus documents and their school-based teaching and learning programs to embed new strategies into their own programs and lesson plans.
Venue: Webinar workshop.
Time: 3.30 p.m. - 5.00 p.m.
Registration: Please register via PHRIS (login to your PHRIS account > Self Service > Learning and Development > Learning > Search Catalog > Advanced Search).*
Funding: System release funding is not available for this event.
Accreditation: Completing this professional development day will contribute 1.5 hours for RE Currency under the requirements of the ‘Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead in Sydney Catholic Schools’ policy.
Professional Standards Addressed:
2.1.2 - Apply knowledge of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area to develop engaging teaching activities.
Limit: None
Contact: Anthony Munro on 0407 843 976 or anthony.munro@scs.catholic.edu.au.
*Cancellation Fees: Participants withdrawing from this event must provide at least 7 days notice prior to the start of the event, otherwise schools will be liable to pay the related event costs in full.
Tuesday, 25 August
(PHRIS Activity Code: 2001-2343-2)
Our population is changing and many of our schools have declining Catholic enrolments. Data shows that many students identifying as Catholic are not regularly attending Mass. Recognising that the Religious Education classroom has students with a spectrum of beliefs and a mixture of Religious Traditions, this day will explore how we can continue to honour the mission of Catholic education in diverse environments. Through a Catholic context, participants will workshop ways to differentiate teaching and learning programs and their strategies to ensure that the Religious Education curriculum is relevant to all learners.
Venue: SCS World Square Office (Level 23, 680 George Street, Sydney)
Time: 9.00a.m. - 3.00p.m.
Registration: Please register via PHRIS (login to your PHRIS account > Self Service > Learning and Development > Learning > Search Catalog > Advanced Search).
Funding: Limited system release funding is available for this event. Requests for funding must be made in writing prior to the day.
Cost: All event costs are covered by Sydney Catholic Schools.
Accreditation: Completing this professional development day will contribute 5 hours for RE Currency under the requirements of the ‘Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead in Sydney Catholic Schools’ policy.
Professional Standards Addressed:
1.3.2 - Design and implement teaching strategies that are responsive to the learning strengths and needs of students from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socio-economic backgrounds
4.1.2 - Establish and implement inclusive and positive interactions to engage and support all students in classroom activities.
6.2.2 - Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.
Limit: 40 participants
Contact: Anthony Munro on 007 843 976 or anthony.munro@scs.catholic.edu.au.
(PHRIS Activity Code: 2001-2348-2)
Friday, 6 February
The analysis of data gives ‘principals and teachers an external point of reference for discussion about pedagogy and for attempts to improve both pedagogy and student achievement.’ (DeCourcy 2005 pp 97). This day will explore the importance of using both NESA RAP and the CSNSW HSC Data Analysis Package (DeCourcy) data to improve learning outcomes in Studies of Religion. Participants will explore HSC data from their local contexts to analyse performance and promote learning gain in Studies of Religion.
Venue: SCS Central Office (Level 23, 680 George St, World Square, Clancy-Gilroy Meeting Rooms).
Time: 8.45 a.m. - 3.10 p.m.
Registration: Please register via PHRIS (login to your PHRIS account > Self Service > Learning and Development > Learning > Search Catalog > Advanced Search).
RSVP: TBA
Funding: One day release funding is available for one participant per school.
Accreditation: Completing this professional development day will contribute 5 hours for RE Currency under the requirements of the ‘Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead in Sydney Catholic Schools’ policy.
Professional Standards Addressed:
5.4.2 - Use student assessment data to analyse and evaluate student understanding of subject/content, identifying interventions and modifying teaching practice.
6.2.2 - Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.
Limit: 35 Participants
Contact: Anthony Munro on 0407 843 976 or anthony.munro@scs.catholic.edu.au.
*Cancellation Fees: Participants withdrawing from this event must provide at least 7 days notice prior to the start of the event, otherwise schools will be liable to pay the related event costs in full.
(PHRIS Activity Code: 2001-2347-3)
Monday, 7 September
The SiCT Professional Learning day will introduce teachers new to teaching the Year 12 endorsed course, Studies in Catholic Thought to the course content and methodology. A key theoretical underpinning of the course is provided by the Congregation for Catholic Education in the document, Educating Today and Tomorrow: A Renewing Passion - Instrumentum Laboris, 2014. This document highlights that learning through research and problem solving is essential for students to develop significant cognitive and mental abilities. Throughout each day, participants will receive an overview of the course, its rationale, differentiation according to the candidature, the role of the SiCT teacher and an exploration of suitable pedagogical approaches to maximise learning outcomes.
Venue: SCS Central Office (Level 23, 680 George St, World Square, Clancy-Gilroy Meeting Rooms).
Time: 8.45 a.m. - 3.15 p.m.
Registration: Please register via PHRIS (login to your PHRIS account > Self Service > Learning and Development > Learning > Search Catalog > Advanced Search).
Funding: One day release funding is available for one participant per school.
Accreditation: Completing this professional development day will contribute 5 hours for RE Currency under the requirements of the ‘Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead in Sydney Catholic Schools’ policy.
Professional Standards Addressed:
2.1.2 - Apply knowledge of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area to develop engaging teaching activities.
6.2.2 - Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.
Limit: None
Contact: Christopher Hayman on 0448 335 902 or christopher.hayman@scs.catholic.edu.au
*Cancellation Fees: Participants withdrawing from this event must provide at least 7 days notice prior to the start of the event, otherwise schools will be liable to pay the related event costs in full.