NSW public schools offer special religious education and special education in ethics, delivered by approved providers wherever available.
During enrolment, you can choose a special religious education option for your child from the school’s available approved providers. You can withdraw your child from special religious education by selecting alternative meaningful activities, or special education in ethics if it’s available.
You can update your preference by writing to the school or through the online form available at participating schools.
Visit the department’s website for more information about religion and ethics.
The following SRE classes are offered at Georges River College Penshurst Campus:
- Combined Christian SRE is provided by the Penshurst Combined Christian Churches Education Board Incorporated, who are cross authorised to deliver combined SRE by the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, The Australian Christian Churches, the Presbyterian Church of Australia (NSW), and the Baptist Union of NSW, all of which are approved SRE providers. They deliver the Think Faith curriculum, details of which can be found at https://whysre.com.au/sre-curriculum/cep-overview/. These SRE classes are held fortnightly.
- Orthodox SRE is provided by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia who are an approved SRE provider. Further details can be found at https://greekorthodox.org.au/education/nsw-scripture-classes/ The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia has authorised the material and pedagogy used by teachers. This is the curricula of the Pantanassa Monastery. Some details of the curriculum is provided to the public on the website:
http://www.pantanassamonastery.org/scripture-lessons.html and http://www.pantanassamonastery.org/resources.html. These SRE classes are held fortnightly. - Christian SRE is provided by the Church of the Living God who are an approved SRE provider. Further details can be found at http://www.churchofthelivinggod.org.au/scripture . These SRE classes are held fortnightly.
- Catholic SRE is provided by by the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, who are an approved SRE provider. These SRE classes will be offered as a seminar program. The curriculum can be found at https://ccd.sydneycatholic.org/publications/curriculum-resources/. These SRE classes will be offered as a seminar program.
No academic instruction or formal school activities occur during the time set aside for SRE. Students not attending SRE are given supervised alternative meaningful activities. Students who do not attend SRE undertake quiet reading, private study, or complete homework.