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.
At Muirfield High School, Special Religious Education (SRE) for Years 7 & 8 and Special Education in Ethics (SEE) for Year 7 will be delivered, once a week for students with parental permission. In 2024, a seminar for SRE will be offered for students in Years 7 to 11 in December. Students not participating in SRE will be supervised by Muirfield teachers and will engage in meaningful activities such as reading, private study or completing homework.
On enrolment, parents and carers can choose the SRE or SEE option available through the online enrolment form. The Year 8 SRE permission note (pdf 123KB) can be printed and returned to the school. The Year 7 SRE & SEE permission note (pdf 124KB) can be printed and returned to school. Parents can also respond via the electronic permission note. After the initial enrolment, writen notification of changes to a child's enrolment in SRE or SEE should be sent to the front office or the school’s email.
The following SRE classes will be offered at Muirfield High School:
- Special Religious Education (SRE): Combined Christian SRE
Christian SRE is provided by SRE teachers from different Christian denominations and churches. The approved providers in this combined arrangement are Liberty Baptist, Revive Church Parramatta and St Paul’s Anglican Carlingford. All Christian SRE teachers are authorised and trained by an approved provider. The curriculum is available here. The curriculum is based on Good News about Jesus Christ and learning the key elements of our Christian life and culture. Christian SRE engages students in conversations as they question life, explore values and discover faith.
- Special Education in Ethics (SEE)
SEE classes support children to develop a life-long capacity for making well-reasoned decisions about ethical issues. Through balanced argument students learn to disagree respectfully, to challenge ideas and to support their arguments with considered evidence. Our volunteer SEE teachers use lesson materials which present a range of stories, scenarios and questions to generate discussion. SEE teachers are trained to impartially facilitate student discussions, helping students develop their critical thinking and collaborative inquiry skills. SEE teachers support student learning by:
- showing genuine curiosity and interest in the questions being discussed
- staying neutral
- creating space for students to think, share ideas, give reasons and ensuring respectful discussion.
SEE is provided by Primary Ethics. You can find out more information about the program from the Primary Ethics website. If you would like to learn more about volunteering to become an SEE volunteer, visit the Primary Ethics volunteer page.
If your preferred Special Religious Education or Special Education in Ethics option is not available please contact the approved provider.
Further, at Muirfield High School, students are able to participate in voluntary student activities of a religious nature (VSA) which includes prayer groups, student-led discussions of a religious nature and lunchtime clubs. All students who participate in VSA must have parental permission. The school monitors the content of VSA activities. VSA do not attempt to proselytise or convert non-adherents of any religion or faith.
For more information about Special Religious Education and Special Education in Ethics, including the list of approved providers, please visit: https://education.nsw.gov.au/religion-and-ethics