Resource Producers – How to accredit your resources

This policy offers an introduction to the Understanding Christianity Accreditation resource mark.

It is designed to give those producing resources to support the Understanding Christianity project clear information and guidance about the accreditation mark , the function and value of the mark , eligibility , how to make an application and the assessment process.

The accreditation mark is important as it seeks to maintain the integrity of an academically rigorous approach to Religious Education and is only awarded to resources that support high quality classroom teaching and learning about Christianity.

What are the benefits of achieving The Understanding Christianity accreditation mark?:

It lets schools know that you resource is compatible with the aims of the project and so they can have confidence in investing in and using your resource.

It will help open up access to various trust groups that will consider funding the development of resources to support the project.

Once accredited your resource will be linked to the Understanding Christianity website.

Criteria

• Theology: Your resource must reflect the mainstream teaching and practice of the Church of England or that of churches in fellowship with Churches together in England.
• Pedagogy: Your resource must be either compatible with the pedagogy of the project or, it may be ‘pedagogically neutral’ if it is only providing information, images or music that can be used by teachers in the classroom.
• Quality: In the view of the awarding panel the resource must be of sufficient quality to promote academically challenging RE in the classroom
• Implication: Association with resources produced by your organisation must not, in the opinion of the panel, place the Understanding Christianity Project at risk of disrepute on the grounds of overt evangelism, controversial opinions, etc
• Skilling teachers rather than de-skilling teachers: The resource must seek to enhance the schools RE provision and the teacher’s capacity to improve teaching and learning. It should not seek to replace the teacher in the delivery of RE

The panel will meet once a term or three times a year.

How do I apply?

A) If you have an existing resource you want accredited.

1. Fill in an application form and send this along with 3 hard copies of the resource, or access to the resource online. If practical, a PDF version or a link to a website download is acceptable.
2. The panel will consider your application and may invite you to attend their next meeting to talk about the resource.

B) If you have a new resource in development/planning

1. You may like to attend a local training session about the Understanding Christianity project run by your local diocesan accredited trainer, or arrange to meet with them to discuss your plans.
2. Fill in the application form with as much detail as you can.
3. If approved you may be invited to give a presentation to the panel about your project.
   Once the resource is ready for publication you will be invited to go through A).

In both cases contact derek.holloway@churchofengland.org for an application form.

Once approved you will be provided with an electronic version of the accreditation mark which you can use on your resource and/or your website.

The accreditation mark will remain in force until you significantly change the resource or in the opinion of the panel it is no longer appropriate that you hold the accreditation.

The mark is given for a specific resource and is not a mark of endorsement of an organisation or any other resource that your organisation produces, or is housed on the organisation’s website

There is no cost for applying to receive accreditation.