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» Assistant To The Principal - Religious Education (APRE)

Accreditation

"Accreditation to teach in a Catholic school is one means of assisting all teachers to develop a deeper understanding of the nature of a Catholic school and its contribution to the mission of the Church. Accreditation is a means of helping all teachers in Catholic schools to understand their role in contributing to the mission of the Church through their teaching.

Accreditation affirms the positive efforts of teachers already teaching in Catholic schools and is also a means through which diocesan/order authorities officially recognise teacher qualification and competency in respect to the particular character and educational philosophy of Catholic schools. Accreditation helps promote confidence in the quality of the Catholic school on the part of the sponsoring Catholic community and the parents who send their children to Catholic schools."

(Accreditation Policy of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission, 2.2)

The Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) has state-wide responsibilities with respect to Catholic Schools on behalf of the Bishops of Queensland. The QCEC Policy on Teacher Accreditation is implemented and administered by Catholic Education Services for the diocese of Cairns.

As indicated above teachers are required to undertake a certain amount of Professional Development to develop their competencies with regard to Catholic Education. The Policy has two strands: Accreditation to Teach in a Catholic School and Accreditation to Teach Religion in a Catholic School. Both strands have requirements for ongoing professional development with renewal required on a four year basis.

Accreditation to Teach in a Catholic School

All teachers require Accreditation to Teach in a Catholic School whether or not they teach Religious Education. The Accreditation Policy fosters a knowledge and understanding of the Gospel and the Catholic Tradition to enable them to support through their teaching and example the efforts of the school to harmonise faith, culture and life. This requires of them particular knowledge and skills for the purposes of Accreditation. The requirement for gaining and renewing Accreditation to Teach is 20 hours of appropriate inservicing over a four year period.

Accreditation to Teach Religion in a Catholic School

Teachers of Religion in Catholic schools require additional professional competence in scripture, theology and religious education theory and practice. Teachers wishing to teach Religious Education require formal qualifications in RE totaling four undergraduate units or equivalent. Once gained Accreditation to Teach Religious is renewed four yearly. Over this period the professional development activities completed should have totaled at least 40 hours. This may include the twenty hours undertaken as a requirement for accreditation to teach in a Catholic school.

Interim Accreditation

At the discretion of the Director of Catholic Education, teachers who do not have appropriate qualifications to meet accreditation requirements at the time of employment may be given Interim Accreditation. During the period of Interim Accreditation the teacher undertakes professional development designed to meet the requirements for accreditation. Financial support is provided to staff employed in Catholic Education, to assist with formal studies in the areas of Theology and Religious Education.

Link to QCEC:

Accreditation Policy of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission http://www.qcec.qld.catholic.edu.au/asp/index.asp?pgid=10669

Attachment to the Policy Statement Minimum Requirements for Accreditation To
Teach in a Catholic School/To Teach Religion in a Catholic School http://www.qcec.qld.catholic.edu.au/asp/index.asp?pgid=10669

Professional Development Opportunities

Staff professional development is encouraged and supported through local inservice opportunities and distance education courses offered by The Institute of Faith, Australian Catholic University and Brisbane College of Theology (St Paul's).  

Currently Masters of Educational Leadership and Graduate Certificate and Diploma in Theology are offered in a mixed mode consisting of face to face intensives and distance work. Any staff interested in further study should contact the Diocesan Faith and Religious Education Coordinator.

Locally run inservice initiatives for staff in Catholic schools are detailed in the booklet "Building Religious Education and Faith Development" which is available from Catholic Education Services or from the Assistant to the Principal - Religious Education in any diocesan school.

Links to institutions

• Australian Catholic University http://www.acu.edu.au/
• St Paul's Theological College http://www.st-pauls.qld.edu.au/

Assistant To The Principal - Religious Education (APRE)

In every school in the diocese there is a specially created position dedicated to the management and guardianship of the Faith and Religious Education aspects of the running of the school.  

The Assistant to the Principal - Religious Education is a member of the leadership team of the school and is responsible for the coordination and supervision of the Religious Education Programme throughout the school, including the provision of inservice opportunities for RE staff. The APRE also oversees the preparation of liturgy and liaises with the Parish Priest with regard to his involvement in the life of the school. Prayer for staff and students, pastoral care and social justice activities within the school community also fall within the APRE's varied range of duties.  

In addition, the APRE is a part of the school's Administration and as such attends meetings and performs a range of Administrative tasks; also, in most cases, deputising for the Principal during her/his absence from the school.  

Links between the APREs and the Catholic Education Services office are maintained via the Diocesan Faith and Religious Education Coordinator. APREs also meet on a regular basis as a whole group, as primary or secondary school colleagues and in geographical cluster groups.