A NEW syllabus for religious education has been issued for schools across North Yorkshire.

The syllabus sets out the statutory content of religious education for all county and voluntary controlled schools.

There is no national curriculum for RE in this country. Instead, it is determined by the local standing advisory council on religious education - Sacre - which then recommends it to the local education authority for adoption.

The executive member for education, Councillor Chris Metcalfe, said: "This syllabus has evolved from its predecessor through a long process of development.

"It is teacher-friendly and draws upon guidance that schools have already been using successfully to promote effective learning and teaching religious education."

The county's director of education, Cynthia Welbourn, launched the new syllabus at Harrogate Grammar School.

Staff and pupils from eight local primary, special and high schools, provided displays of their work in RE and spoke with the invited guests about the work on show.

Mrs Welbourn said: "The syllabus is presented at a time when some knowledge of, and sensitivity to, religious traditions and their interplay in public life and international events is ever more important."

The chairman of Sacre, the Reverend Peter Doble, said: "At a time when religious tolerance, citizenship and social cohesion are gaining an increased prominence in securing more cohesive societies it is good that we are specifying in a more up-to-date way what schools should be focusing on in their learning and teaching."