Special Religious Education and Special Education in Ethics Participation

A feature of the public education system in NSW is the opportunity to provide time in class for education in ethics, faith and morality from a religious or non-religious perspective for students in Years 7-10 at the choice of parents/carers.

A parent/carer may at any time change their decision by completing the online form to update the SRE/SEE details. Students will continue the same arrangement as the previous year, unless a parent/carer has requested a change in writing.

Students not attending SRE/SEE will be provided with supervised alternative, meaningful activities such as reading, private study or completing homework.

For more information about Special Religious Education (SRE) and Special Education in Ethics (SEE), including the list of approved providers, please visit: https://education.nsw.gov.au/religion-and-ethics

The following options are available at Chatswood High School:

Combined Christian

With SRE teachers from local churches, students ask questions, explore the Bible and discover the Good News of Jesus Christ and what is means to be a Christian in our world today. Lessons are age-appropriate, fun and inclusive. https://www.reachinschools.org/

Catholic

Trained SRE teachers use authorised curriculum materials that are interactive and age appropriate. The lessons are fun and inclusive and focus on love, goodness and hope which helps to build resilience, character and faith. https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/

Islamic SRE (Available 2027)

Islamic SRE is grounded in the rich traditions of the Islamic faith. Students are guided in understanding their core beliefs, empowering them to carry these values forward as compassionate, contributing members of the Australian community. https://www.islamiceducation.org.au

Afternoon Islamic Prayer (Dhuhr)

Daily student-led afternoon prayer for Muslim Students.

Buddhist SRE

The Buddhist SRE Syllabus aims to help children to lead happy and healthy lives and to instil values and life skills based on the understanding and practice of the teachings of the Buddha. The Buddhist SRE Syllabus emphasises values and life skills, as well as learning facts about the Buddha’s life and key teachings. https://buddhistcouncil.org/sre-program/

Hindu SRE

Hindu SRE gives students the chance to connect with their spiritual and cultural heritage in ways that remain deeply relevant to modern Australian life. A central focus is creating a supportive space for students to explore Hindu Meditation and its well-documented benefits for wellbeing, social development and academic engagement. https://hinducouncil.com.au/sre-special-religious-education-in-nsw-schools/

Ethics (Available 2027)

Ethics lessons invite children to explore everyday issues such as telling lies, how to behave with your friends, whether something is fair or unfair and many more. This is available for students in Year 7 and 8 only. https://primaryethics.com.au