Pennant Hills High School

Responsibility Integrity Achievement

Telephone02 9473 5000

Emailpennanthil-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Religion and ethics

NSW public schools offer special religious education and special education in ethics, delivered by approved providers wherever available.

Write to the school if you wish to withdraw your child from special religious education, sometimes known as scripture. Special education in ethics is an option for your primary-age child if you withdraw them from special religious education. For more information, visit Religion and ethics.

Parents/caregivers in public schools have the right to have their children receive instruction in their preferred religious persuasion, where authorised teachers of that persuasion are available.

A special religious education program is available at Pennant Hills High School and is run by Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Christian Education Association (PHCCEA). This is a combined group of churches within the local area. All of these organisations are on the Department of Education's list of approved providers.

All Christian SRE teachers are authorised and trained by an approved provider. 

Additional details of the program and the Think Faith curriculum, which is authorised by the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. 

Special religious education (SRE) at Pennant Hills High School occurs during timetabled lessons on average once a fortnight. A copy of the timetable can be obtained through the student/parent portal.

On enrolment, Year 7 - 10 parents/caregivers are given the SRE participation letter to complete and return. A copy can be downloaded here: Special Religious Education SRE Years 7 to 10 Letter to Parents and Caregivers (PDF 375KB)

Students continue in the same arrangement each year, unless a parent or caregiver has requested a change in writing. At any time, parents and caregivers have the right to change their child's participation status in the SRE program. A note to the Principal will affect this change.

Students who are withdrawn from special religious education are supervised in the library for quiet study, reading or homework completion.

Voluntary Religious Activities (VRA)

A number of students at Pennant Hills High School voluntarily participate in religious groups, which meet weekly during lunchtimes. In accordance with the Department of Education’s (DoE) policy, visiting group leaders undergo all appropriate child protection checks and practices and the content of the activities is regularly monitored by a Deputy Principal.

Following are details of the voluntary groups of a religious nature, which operate at Pennant Hills High School:

Participation in VRA

The NSW DoE’s Religious Education Implementation Procedures requires parental permission for students who participate in voluntary student activities of a religious nature in schools.

Before participating in any activities listed below, a student must present the permission slip, signed by a parent/caregiver, to Public Reception for monitoring by a Deputy Principal. Group leaders will maintain a list of all students from whom a permission note has been received. Permission will remain effective unless a letter of withdrawal is received from the student’s parent/caregiver.

VRA Groups

IGNITE (Interschool Christian Fellowship)

  • Time: Wednesday lunchtime
  • Venue: Room 214
  • Participating Year Groups: Years 7 – 12

TLT (Interschool Christian Fellowship)

  • Time: Tuesday lunchtime
  • Venue: Room 322
  • Participating Year Groups: Years 9 – 12

Both groups are monitored by a Deputy Principal.

For further information, see the NSW DoE’s Religion and Ethics Procedures pages.