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Letters to parents

Sample letter to parents (click here to dowload)

MEMORANDUM TO PRINCIPALS                                            DN/06/00342

Enrolment forms and special religious education

The new Application to enrol in a NSW Government school does not seek information on special religious education (SRE). Instead it asks parents to nominate “Religion” and “If none, please write no religion” (Page 8). Some parents may wish to write a Christian denomination in this space and this could be helpful.

The purpose of this question is to seek information about religious persuasion so that schools can plan for SRE. Many schools will also be able to organise their SRE classes from this information. At enrolment, parents should be given an explanation of what SRE is and informed that this section of the enrolment form will be used to form SRE classes.

Where the arrangements for SRE are more complicated, because of changed arrangements or the large number of providers or denominations operating, schools should continue to use the “sample letter to parents” that contains information about SRE and provides a space for schools to write in the actual SRE classes that operate at the school.  This letter allows parents to select the appropriate SRE class or non SRE. In this way accurate information can be gathered about the preferences of parents.

Schools should make every attempt to have all these forms returned, especially when they are used at times, other than at enrolment, to help with in the operation of SRE. In accordance with the Department’s policy on SRE, the default position for placement into SRE classes is the information provided at enrolment and not a “nil response” from a “sample letter to parents”.

To assist schools in these matters a new version of the sample letter to parents is included which includes these changes.

If you require further advice, please contact Lianne Singleton, Curriculum Directorate, telephone (02) 9886 7646.

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