Religious Education (RE) is a statutory subject within controlled schools in Northern  Ireland – all government funded schools are required to teach it. Schools have to provide RE in accordance with the core syllabus which was drawn up by the four main churches and specified by the Department.

At the national level the statutory requirements for RE are outlined in the Core Syllabus for RE whilst the Non Statutory Guidance provides schools with information and practical guidance for planning their RE. The core syllabus for Religious Education has been developed by the four main Christian Churches and outlines statutory Religious Education content at all key stages. Teachers are encouraged to supplement the core syllabus with further provision which complements the ethos of the school and the society in which we live. Prayer spaces are a good fit for this.