Dr Tania ap SiônExecutive Director, St Mary’s Centre,

Wales

OverviewOverview

OverviewWales: demographyGovernment in WalesEducation in WalesWales and EnglandWales and EuropeRole of Church in education in Wales

DemographyDemography

LanguageHistoryThe 1536 and 1542 Acts of Union – English

language used in Government. Status of Welsh diminishes.

Translation of the Bible in 1588 by Bishop William Morgan. Important role in strengthening the Welsh language.

18th and 19th century Industrial Revolution – fall in Welsh speakers to 50%

Decline in Welsh speakers continued in 20th century

Language1942 Welsh Courts Act1967 Welsh Language Act1988 Education Act - Welsh language becomes part of the National

Curriculum in schools

1993 Welsh Language Act: - Welsh and English equal in public life e.g.public

sector services; right to use Welsh in court - Welsh Language Board established

Language2010 proposed Welsh language measure: - confirm the official status of the Welsh

language - give additional rights for Welsh speakers

Bilingual education provision: - First language / bilingual / second language - schools and higher education

Language2001 National Census results

For all of Wales:Welsh speakers (age 3 years and over)2001 = 20.8% 1991 = 18.7% 1981 = 19%582, 400No knowledge of Welsh2001 = 71.6%40.8% speakers are aged 5-15 years

LanguageIndividual Local Authorities:Gwynedd highest % of Welsh speakers

69%Monmouthshire lowest of Welsh speakers

9%west / east Wales divisionsSlight decrease in Welsh speaking heartlands

/ increase in other areas of Wales

Language

Strengthening of the Welsh language in Wales

- success of Government policies - success of non-government pressure groups

for the Welsh language (Cymdeithas yr Iaith)

National identity2001 National Census results67% national identity is Welsh (7% Welsh

and other national identity)33% not Welsh

- Welsh identity related to country of birth, Welsh speaking, qualifications, socio-economic class, and age

Religion2001 National Census results

WalesEngland

Christian 72%Non-Christian 2% 6% religions

ReligionNon-Christian religions Wales:Muslims under 1% (22,000). Cardiff largest number of Muslims - 4% of

population

Regional distribution: - cities in south Wales (e.g. Cardiff and

Swansea) - North East Wales, town of Wrexham - west / east differences

ReligionChristianity in Wales:

- Church in Wales (Disestablished from Church of England in 1920)

- Roman Catholicism - strong non-conformist traditions (e.g. Baptists) - Orthodox Christianity (growing – Eastern

Europe)

ReligionInterfaith networks - few in Wales compared with England - Interfaith Council for Wales - Interfaith Council for England and Wales - signs of growth in interfaith networks in

Wales

- The first Interfaith Eisteddfod in Wales (November 2009)

GovernmentGovernment

Government in WalesWales 1997 referendum on devolution1999 established Welsh Assembly GovernmentPower to make laws on 20 subject areas,

including education, health, environment and local government, with restrictions

Defence , taxation, and welfare benefits controlled by UK Parliament

Spring 2011, Wales referendum for additional law-making powers in the 20 subject areas

Government in Wales Some links with demographics:Welsh languageFirst Minister’s Faith Forum - consultative body of faith representatives

Government in Wales‘One Wales’ commitment to achieve a fair and just

society. Welsh Assembly Government policy documents include:

Communities’ FirstRefugee Inclusion StrategyUnity and Diversity – promoting equality and

diversity in the school curriculumGetting on Together: a community cohesion

strategy, 2009 - mapping communities - community cohesion strategies created at local level

Government in WalesPolicy documents, where relevant, recognise

the importance of religion

Senate in WalesSenate in Wales

EducationEducation

Education in WalesSince devolution education systems in England

and Wales have become increasingly diverse.Education Review in Wales - creation of new curriculum - supported by extensive Government publications

both at subject level and also cross-cutting level - supported by Government sponsorship of

bilingual classroom materials - whole process supported by Government subject

officers for each area of the curriculum

Religious Education in WalesReligious EducationSame legal status in Wales and England

1944 Education Act (reflects the historic role of churches in education provision and the partnership between church and state) – state maintained schools

- Religious education made compulsory - daily collective worship made compulsory

Religious Education in Wales1988 Education Reform Act - determined the broad content (Christianity and

the other major religions present in Great Britain) - determined approach of religious education (non-

confessional, not taught from any particular denominational position - unless Voluntary Aided school of a religious character e.g. Church in Wales)

- Unlike the new National Curriculum subjects, religious education remains locally determined

parental right of withdrawal

Religious Education in WalesReligious education and local controlThe role of SACRE (Standing Advisory Council

on Religious Education) - each local authority has to establish a SACRE by

law to advise on religious education and collective worship

- in Wales made up of three Committees (four in England): local government councillors, teachers, and religious representatives

- religious education is informed by the local area

Religious Education in WalesReligious education post-devolutionPosition of religious education in the Wales

Education Review: - equal treatment with other subjects - equal provision on every level

Religious Education in WalesNational Exemplar Framework for Religious

Education for 3 to 19-year-olds in Wales and support guidance documents, 2008 (non-statutory)

- adopted or adapted by all 22 Local Authorities in Wales

How was this achieved?Process of consultation / key individuals / size of

WalesNature of the content of the Framework (relevance

and allows local input)

Religious Education in Wales

Exemplar Framework focuses on three inter-related core skills for 8 to 19-year-olds (3 to 7 year olds within Foundation Phase curriculum):

Engaging with fundamental questionsExploring religious beliefs and practicesExpressing personal responses

Approached through a given ‘Range’ e.g. The world, human experience, and search for meaning

Religious Education in WalesSchools of a Religious Character syllabus

responsibility of the group concernedE.g. Church in Wales syllabus for religious

education

Wales Association of SACREsWales Association of SACREs established in 1995Forum for 22 SACREs in Wales and represents

SACREs at national levelSince devolution, emerged as an influential non-

government organisation for religious education Annual meetings with Minister of Education –

raising issues of concern and areas for development

Engages in some collaborative working with WAGIncreasingly consulted by the Welsh Assembly

Government

Wales Association of SACREsWorks closely with other non-government

organisations such as NAPfRE, REMW, and the Centres for Religion and Education.

Centres for Religion and EducationCentres for religion and educationthe Mary’s Centre (2008)the St Giles’ Centre (2009)Core funded by Anglican charities: - trust deeds are religion and education

related - involved in religious education both in school

and church - work collaboratively with higher education

and other bodies in Wales and England

Centres for Religion and Education

St Mary’s Centre and St Giles’ Centre share expertise and work collaboratively

Both Centres provide a significant resource for non-government organisations in Wales: WASACRE; NAPfRE; REMW

Wales and EnglandWales and England

Wales and EnglandSince devolution, the two education systems

have become increasingly divergent Raises question: What can we do together?

RE Council for England and WalesRE Council for England and WalesWales representation (two positions)

Strengthening of links : learning about differences and similarities in shared projects

REsilienceREsilience is a project which is:UK Government funded: Home OfficeManaged by Education Council for England

and Wales (REC) under contracts with DCSF (for England) and DCELLS (for Wales).

REsilienceWhat is REsilience?

REsilience is a project for teachers of religious education in state-maintained secondary schools. Its purpose is to help increase teacher confidence in addressing contentious issues, particularly when such issues are sometimes used to justify violent extremism.

REsilienceWelsh provision: - WASACRE and Welsh Assembly Government

representative s on the Executive Delivery Group and Advisory Group.

- creation of a Welsh Advisory Group - adaptation of materials produced to reflect

differing systems and issues in Wales - Welsh language document provision

Religious Education FestivalMonth-long celebration of religious education

in England and Wales (March 2011)www.recelebration.org

Provision for Wales: - Wales link with England Planning Committee

(WASACRE link) - Wales planning group - Welsh translation and adaption of key

resources and promotional materials

Christian EducationChristian charity which is a major provider of

resources for religious education in both church and school contexts

Historically understood its work to be in both England and Wales

Wales representative on Christian Education Board

Increasing recognition that resources need to be made relevant to Wales

Interfaith Network Interfaith Network for the UK - recent WASACRE membership (July 2010) - the Network conducted a survey (2009) of local

interfaith organisations and SACREs on working together for understanding and community cohesion (England-based only)

- Inspired WASACRE survey of SACREs and the Local Community

WASACRE surveyThe survey will enable Wales Association of SACREs to

map the relationships between SACREs and their local communities through collating and sharing information, experiences, and practice in relation to four specific areas:

SACRE representation on Committee A (Christian denominations and other religions and their denominations)

SACRE co-opted representationSACRE relations with Christian denominations and

other religions and their denominationsand SACRE involvement with local interfaith

organisations and other local interfaith initiatives.

Wales and EuropeWales and Europe

EFTREWASACRE representation: - RE Subject Officer for Welsh Assembly

Government

ICCSDavid LankshearTania ap Siôn

Role of the ChurchRole of the ChurchIn EducationIn Education

SACREsCommittee A of SACRE (Christian

denominations and other religions and denominations as reflected in the local community)

Significant opportunity for church to contribute to religious education and collective worship in all locally maintained schools

Work needs to be done to enhance further the quality of this contribution

Wales Association of SACREsOpportunity for SACREs to send up to four

representatives to the national meeting held three times a year

Centres for Religion and Education

St Mary’s CentreSt Giles’ Centre

Both core funded by Anglican charities, focusing of religion and education in both the school sector and church sector

Both Centres provide a significant resource for non-government organisations in Wales

St Mary’s CentreAreas of activityResearch in religion and educationCurriculum Development in religion and

educationAccredited Continuing Professional Development

programmes in religion and education - St Mary’s Centre is a full member of CUAC

(Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion)

St Mary’s CentreResearch in religion and educationCoordinate Wales arm of UK-based and

European research projects e.g. Young People’s Religion and Values Survey

Support other relevant bodies conducting relevant research e.g. The Wales Association of SACRE’s survey

Relevant PhD studentships - Young People’s Religion and Values Survey - Cathedrals and education

St Mary’s CentreCurriculum development in religion and education

Four Welsh Assembly Government contracts won since 2003.

St Mary’s CentreAccredited Continuing Professional

Development programmes in religion and education

DMin in Religion and Education(validated by Glyndŵr University)

BA in Theology for Discipleship and Ministry (in partnership with the St Seiriol’s Centre and validated by Glyndŵr University)

St Giles’ CentreUsing the church as a significant educational

resource for church and schools

St Giles’ Centre

St Giles’ CentreWorks collaboratively with the St Mary’s

Centre on Curriculum Development projects

Church in Wales Church schools (Voluntary Controlled and

Voluntary Aided)Church in Wales Education Review (2009)

ModulesEthnographic StudiesInterview StudiesQualitative StudiesHistorical StudiesPhilosophical StudiesQuantitative StudiesTheological StudiesQuestionnaire StudiesBiblical Studies