RELIGIOUS education classes in Bolton schools are to play a bigger role in bringing people of different faiths and cultures together.

Bolton Council has unveiled its new religious education (RE) syllabus. At the heart of it lies the promotion of understanding between different communities and celebrating diversity.

For 12 months, RE teachers, the local authority and the local Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) have been working on the syllabus, which the law states has to reviewed every five years.

RE is the only subject that has to have an agreed syllabus, to cover the teaching of early years to post-16.

Nick Tyldesley, Bolton’s teaching and learning consultant, said: “The review is part of a legal requirement, but it gives us the chance to develop the syllabus to reflect the changing communities and society.

“The syllabus emphasises the importance of addressing community cohesion, celebrating the diversity of the members of Bolton’s faith communities, as well as the connections that can be made. Noting different traditions from our own and being positive about our individual experiences is important. The key word is all about showing respect.”

Council officers say the new syllabus, which is less prescriptive than before, will develop a “deep awareness of the richness of Bolton’s cultural diversity” and central to each topic is relating it to local communities.

Joyce Miller, a former RE adviser, said: “Having respect for differences is important in RE and important in community cohesion.”

She added that through RE, young people could become “cultural navigators”, enabling them to “go into different communities and be able to engage in dialogue”.

The new syllabus was welcomed by teachers.

Sheila Tomkins, head of RE at Withins School in Breightmet, said: “It is very good that there is a collaborative approach on the syllabus and teachers work together.

“RE covers a vast area and, because of its sensitive nature, can be quite difficult to teach.

“There is a need for change in this subject and promoting community cohesion is important.”

Youngsters from St Paul’s CE Primary, in Bolton, and Withins School provided the entertainment at the launch of the new syllabus with song and a performance of The Prodigal Son.

Emily Sulley, aged 13, said: “RE is important because it makes you think about issues and help you understand different things.”

Adam Lofthouse, aged 13, said: “Through RE you get an understanding of different faiths, which does help to promote community cohesion because an understanding helps to break down barriers.”

Drew Trivedi, aged 14, said: “It is good that the syllabus is reviewed because society changes and it makes it more relevant for us.”