Transferors welcome review of Religious Education in Northern Ireland
The Transferor Representatives’ Council, representing the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian Church, and Methodist Church, has made the following statement on the announcement made by Education Minister Paul Givan MLA to the Northern Ireland Assembly this morning:
The Transferor Representatives’ Council (TRC) welcome the Minister’s announcement today that he is to conduct a review of the RE curriculum, for which we have been calling for a number of years. The TRC is fully committed to engaging in the consultative group and we also welcome the Minister’s decision to respond to our request that RE is included as part of the general inspection process in schools. We further welcome clarification on the right of withdrawal from Collective Worship and RE.
Religious Education (RE) is one of the most important subjects on the curriculum, as it considers life’s big questions, provides a roadmap for navigating life’s ups and downs, and presents opportunities to learn about what Christians and others believe. We remain committed to supporting schools in providing high-quality balanced RE and meaningful Collective Worship, which reflects the Christian ethos of all of our schools and is consistent with the rights of all children. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the Christian ethos remains and underpins our education system.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The Transferor Representatives’ Council oversees the appointment of over 1,500 governors to controlled schools; these transferor governors are nominated by representatives of the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, and noted by the Education Authority.
Media contact: Peter Cheney (Church of Ireland Press Office) – 07774 295 369
Website: https://trc-churcheducation.org
Notes to Editors
The TRC represents the interests of the Church of Ireland, Methodist Church in Ireland and the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in education issues in Northern Ireland and advocates on behalf of the three churches. Controlled schools are ‘church-related schools’ owing to the fact that in the 1930s, 40s and 50s, the three churches transferred their school buildings, pupils and staff into state control (hence the terms ‘transferor’ and ‘controlled’) on the understanding that the Christian ethos of these schools would be maintained in perpetuity. Between 1926 and 1947, the churches transferred approximately 500 schools to the government of Northern Ireland.
During the transfer process at the time, the Church leaders stressed that it was not simply buildings, which were being transferred, but pupils, and a concept of education directly informed and shaped by a Christian ethos. In return for transferring their schools into state control, the transferor churches were accorded statutory rights of representation on Boards of Governors.
The TRC overseas the appointment of over 1,500 governors to serve on the boards of controlled schools in Northern Ireland, who are known as ‘transferor governors’. The TRC works closely with statutory bodies and nominates four members to Education Authority. More information on its role and work can be found on its website: https://trc-churcheducation.org
Media contact
Issued by the Church of Ireland Press Office Duty mobile: Janet Maxwell +353 87 9484412