Religious Education
The Local Faith Community and Other Resources
November 2015
School visits to a place of worship and the visits to the classroom by members of a faith community can be amongst the most rewarding experiences pupils have in RE.
(It is acknowledged that the following guidance is adapted from the Support Materials of the Agreed Syllabus for Northamptonshire).
Introduction
As part of Religious Education in schools a visit to a place of worship, large or small, can be extremely rewarding. It does, of course, have to be carefully prepared, hosted and developed into a worthwhile learning opportunity. Conducted properly, it will contribute to the pupils’ educational and personal development, to inter-faith relationships, and to more effective community cohesion.
The Value of Visits
A visit outside the classroom can be an excellent resource for Religious Education but must be managed in a thoughtful and sensitive way. It can provide opportunities for awe and wonder and for spiritual development as well as extending learning. Pupils will learn by: Experiencing the atmosphere of a place of worship, which cannot be simulated in the classroom; Having a multi-sensory experience which allows greater understanding and retention of information; Seeing a variety of forms of expression of belief; Meeting people from a variety of faith perspectives in the context of their own worshipping community, giving an insight into the life of the community and the role of the place of worship within it; Bringing to life the technical vocabulary that has been used to explore the concepts of the faith; Experiencing the sacred in the setting in which they are used – many artefacts and some holy scriptures can only be seen in the place in which they are used; Enlightening pupils and helping to develop respect, sensitivity and empathy; Building up positive attitudes towards a variety of faiths and cultures.
Visits can contribute to pupils’ personal development, their understanding of other groups in society and to community cohesion. Visits can also enhance other areas if the curriculum such as literacy, the arts and the humanities and organisers should discuss opportunities for such experiences, where relevant, with hosts.
A visit to a place of worship should be carefully planned in liaison with the host. Initial contact should be made by the visit organiser and it is strongly advisable that the organiser makes a preliminary visit. During this visit the following information should be exchanged: The specific aim of the visit; The age and gender of the pupils; The approximate number of the pupils; The ability range of the pupils; Range of religious/non-religious backgrounds; Whether any pupils are likely to be members of the place being visited; The pupils’ level of knowledge about the religion concerned; What the teacher would like the pupils to be able to do; What is the arrival and leaving time; The length of time a member of the faith community will be expected to talk to the pupils, bearing in mind the age/ability of the pupils.
The host will need to give the following information: If there are any special requirements regarding clothing and whether these apply to one or both sexes; If there are any requirements regarding general behaviour, e.g. where or how pupils should sit; If there are any activities that are prohibited, such as the taking of photographs; Who will be hosting the particular visit? It is important that the person has experience of communicating with children; When would be the best time for the visit – as well as times of day to avoid, this also includes dates – those to avoid as well as those that might be particularly interesting; If there are any particular topics they can talk about that might be of interest; If there are any facilities for those with disabilities (if required); The availability of toilet facilities; The possibility of refreshments or facilities for pupils to eat their own food; Whether costs are involved (or if it would be appropriate to make a donation to cover expenses).
Using an empty building
It should be remembered that places of worship are not like museums and if the building is empty at the time of the visit it should be stressed that this is not how it is during worship. Attention should be drawn to any evidence that indicates use by a living faith community. Pupils should be helped to see the building as it is used by the faith community in a variety of different ways.
What is the purpose of the visit?
Hosts will need to be made aware of the main objectives and planned outcomes of the visit. For example is this: An introduction and stimulus at the beginning of a unit of work? A means of supporting the learning which is in progress? A reinforcement or climax to what has been studied? To observe demonstration of an aspect of worship; To be involved in a simulation of a particular activity; To have a guided tour around the building.
Giving support prior to the visit
Hosts should: Know the purpose of the visit; Know the learning objectives and learning outcomes; Know the format, timing etc. of the visit; Know the expectations of any tasks to be completed on site; If possible arrange for a pre-visit from the organiser to help prepare for appropriate experiences for the pupils.
During a visit
The visit can be a more rewarding RE learning experience when there is a focus on key questions such as: Are there any signs or symbols outside the building which give clues about the beliefs of the people who use it? What is the title and role of the host who welcomed you? Do they wear special clothes? Why? Why not? What customs are there which show that the building is treated with respect? What clues are there in the building as to what type of worship takes place there? What can you find out about when and where prayers take place there? Do activities other than worship take place? What? Why? What name is given to the special book or writings found here? How are they used? How can you tell the writings are special? How do writings impact on the lives of the people who worship in the building?
Hosts should make visitors aware of the denomination of the building that they are visiting. This is the case with all faiths. For example, there are many different types of church buildings, old and new (even within the same denominations) and pupils need to be helped to identify and understand differences and similarities in the buildings and in expressions of worship.
Some possible strategies that may supplement the visit:
The host may wish to invite other members of the faith community to be present for the visit, or indeed some pupils may themselves be members of the faith community and may be prepared to demonstrate readings, prayers or other appropriate acts. Care must be taken not to embarrass pupils or to have others regard them as a kind of quaint artefact. It may be possible to arrange the visit to coincide with daily/weekly worship. It should be remembered that the role of pupils is as observers and not participants.
The host may be asked to help simulate aspects of a festival, celebration or ceremony from the faith such as Shabbat, Diwali, a wedding, Baptism, Naming Ceremony or performing Wudu. It is important to remember that such an activity is purely a re- enactment to help pupils experience events at first hand and is not participatory worship. Pupils should be helped to understand why such an occasion is so important within the faith and the impact it has on the lives of believers.
Hosts should bear in mind the age of the pupils and simulate aspects that are appropriate and will be clearly understood by pupils. This will need discussion with the school prior to the visit.
Encourage the experiences of the visit to be RE focused. For example, when a Lower Key Stage 2 class visit a church make activities RE specific: Look around the churchyard. Are there any messages that show what Christian people believe about death? Is there a yew tree. How can such a tree symbolise the Christian belief in life after death? Look at the outside of the church. What evidence is there that this is a Christian building? Look at the font. Why are fonts often found just inside the church doorway? Sit quietly by yourself. Think about what you can see, hear and smell, and how this building makes you feel. Find five Christian symbols. Sketch them and research their meaning later on. What pictures can you find on the kneelers? Are they symbolic? Find a stained glass window that is based on a story that Jesus told. Which story is it? What is its significance of this story for Christians today?
Further Information
Further information is available from a variety of sources such as the accompanying CD of Support Materials from the Agreed Syllabus for Northamptonshire and at: www.reonline.org.uk http://www.engagingplaces.org.uk/teaching%20resources www.natre.org.uk MULTIFAITH RESOURCES
Articles of Faith Grange House 2 Geddings Rd Hoddesdon Herts EN11 0NT Tel: 01992 454636 Fax: 01992 448989 www.articlesoffaith.co.uk
TTS Group Ltd Park Lane Business Park Kirkby-in-Ashfield Nottinghamshire NG17 9LE Tel: 0800 138 1370 Fax: 0800 137 525 www.tts-group.co.uk
RE Today Services 1020 Bristol Rd Selly Oak Birmingham West Midlands B29 6LB Tel: 0121 472 4242 www.retoday.org.uk
Mantra Lingua Ltd Global House 303 Ballards Lane London N12 8NP Tel: 0208 445 5123 www.mantralingua.com
Oneworld Publications 10 Bloomsbury Street London WC1B 3SR Tel: 0207 307 8900 https://www.oneworld-publications.com/
Oxford University Press http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/ Bookpoint Ltd Holder Education Customer Service Team 130 Park Drive Milton Park Abingdon OXON OX14 4SE Tel: 01235 827827 http://bookpoint.hachette-livreuk.com/ Wildgoose and PCET Publishing Wildgoose Education Ltd The Old Toy Factory Jackson St Coalville Leicestershire LE67 3NR Tel: 01530 518568 www.wildgoose.ac/
Pearson Education Ltd Tel: 0845 630 111 www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk
Hachette Children's Books 338 Euston Rd London NW1 3BH Tel: 0207 873 6000 www.hachettechildrens.co.uk www.justposters.org
USEFUL CONTACTS
It is important to note that the Diocese does not endorse or recommend any particular organisations or their information.
BAHA'I FAITH
Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is Northampton 0800 619 0099 www.northamptonbahais.org.uk www.bahai.org.uk
BUDDHISM
Kelmarsh Nagarjuna Kadampa Meditation Centre The Old Rectory Kelmarsh Northants NN6 9LZ http://meditateinnorthants.com/about-us/school-visits/ Tel: 01604 686778
Peace Pagoda (Buddhism) Willen Milton Keynes https://mkbuddhism.wordpress.com/ 01908 663652
Clear Vision Trust Buddhist Resources Manchester Buddhist Centre http://www.clear-vision.org/Home/Home.aspx 0161 839 9579 CHRISTIANITY
Visits to your local church, chapel or other place of Christian worship can be arranged directly with local clergy. www.achurchnearyou.com
Rev Philip Davies The Rectory 3 Hall Yard Kings Cliffe Peterborough PE8 6QX Email: [email protected]
Churches Together and Soke of Peterborough www.Churches-together-northampton.org.uk Daventry Secretary Brenda Collinson Email: [email protected] Wellingborough Secretary Valerie Wingate Email: [email protected]
Churches Together for Kettering http://together.ourchurchweb.org.uk/kettering
World Council of Churches www.oikoumene.org
Free Church Federal Council Northampton www.freechurches.org.uk
British Council of Churches www.ctbi.org.uk
Catholic Online www.catholic.org
Greek Orthodox Church http://www.argyrou.eclipse.co.uk/Npton.htm
Christian Aid Chris Wild - Regional Co-ordinator for Northamptonshire and Rutland Archdeaconry House 15 Gravel Walk Peterborough PE1 1YU Tel: 01733 345755/07837 934728 (ext. 4801) Email: [email protected]
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Rothwell Road Kettering NN16 8XF Contact: [email protected] Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 137 Harlestone Road Northampton NN5 6AA Tel: 01604 587630
JEHOVAH'S WITNESS
The Kingdom Hall Crest wood Road Northampton NN3 8JJ Tel: 01604 643529 www.jw.org
Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society (will be able to contact local Elders) The Ridgeway London NW7 1RN Tel: 0208 906 2211 www.watchtower.org
HINDUISM
Sunita Prasad School Visitor (Northants & SE Leics) Tel: 0771 8079123 Email: [email protected] www.littleinspirations.biz
Rashmita Shah School Visitor (Northants) Tel: 01604 706463/ 07904 866281
Kirti Thakur School Visitor (Northants) Email: [email protected]
Krishna Thakur School Visitor (Northants) Tel: 07756 373473 Email: [email protected]
Kunal Thakrar School Visitor (Northants) Email: [email protected]
Hindu Mandir 133 Highfield Rd Wellingborough NN8 1PL Tel: 01933 222250 (5-7pm)
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir 2-22 Mill Road Wellingborough NN8 1PE, UK Tel: 01933 272061 http://www.baps.org/Global-Network/UK-and-Europe/Wellingborough.aspx E-mail: [email protected]
HUMANISM (NON-FAITH WORLDVIEW) www.humanism.org.uk www.humanismforschools.org.uk www.humanism.org.uk/store/educational-resources www.humanism.org.uk/education/teachers/request-volunteer-school
ISLAM
Association of Northamptonshire Supplementary Schools Ltd (Northampton Arabic Supplementary School) Chairman: Alaa Abouzanad Tel: 07711 917489 Email: [email protected] www.anss.org.uk
Council of Muslims www.mcb.org.uk
Northampton Central Mosque 112-116 Abington Avenue Northampton NN1 4PD Tel: 01604 622718 Email: [email protected] www.ncmosque.co.uk
Sayfullah Nasir Muslim Visitor Faith representative at University of Northampton [email protected]
Northampton Mosque 8 St George's Street Northampton NN1 2TR Tel: 01604 624930
Al-Jamat-ul-Muslimin of Bangladesh 43 Argyle Street St James Northampton NN5 5JG Tel: 01604 754088
Gulzar-e-Madina Islamic Welfare Trust 1 Collingdale Road Headlands Northampton NN3 2TS Tel: 07801 735395 www.madinamasjidnorthampton.org.uk
Islamic Pakistani Community Centre 98a Colwyn Road Northampton NN1 3PU Tel: 01604 621125
Pearls of Peace The Doddridge Centre 109 St James Rd Northampton NN5 5LD Tel: 01604 946603/ 07950 213796 Email: [email protected]
Corby Muslim Association 30 Stuart Road Corby NN17 1RL Tel: 07733 787271 / 07533 548827
Daventry Muslim Association Bridge Hall Brook Street Daventry NN11 4GG Tel: 07958 774551 Email: [email protected]
Kettering Muslim Association 123 Headlands Kettering NN15 6AD Tel: 01536 523812 www.ketteringmuslim.co.uk
Milton Keynes Mosque 401 South Row Milton Keynes MK9 2PG Tel: 01908 308151 http://www.mkica.org/
Wellingborough Mosque 8 Winstanley Road Wellingborough NN8 1JE Tel: 07564870046 Maulana Ismail - 07938 408885 (2-4pm) Email: [email protected] http://www.wellingboroughmosque.co.uk/1/visits-tours
Imran Kotwal Muslim Learner Services Tel: 01204 896115 http://www.muslimlearnerservices.org/
JAINISM
Hindu Mandir Wellingborough (has a shrine for Mahaveer Swami) 133 Highfield Rd Wellingborough NN8 1PL Visits - Ramesh Ganatra Tel: 01933 222250 (5-7pm) Email: [email protected]
Jain Samaj Europe 32 Oxford St Leicester LE1 5XU Tel: 0116 2541150 Email: [email protected] www.jaincentreleicester.com School visits - Dr Ramesh Mehta Tel: 07930 479957
JUDAISM
Mrs Jo Elijah School Visitor (Northants, Milton Keynes and borders) Tel: 07932 748592
Leicester Orthodox Synagogue Highfield Street Leicester LE2 1AS For visits, contact Howard Freeman: [email protected]
Leicester Progressive Synagogue 24 Avenue Road Leicester LE2 3EA Tel: 0116 2715584 www.lpjc.org.uk
Milton Keynes Reform Synagogue Hainault Avenue Gifford Park Milton Keynes MK14 5PQ 01908 617790 www.mkdrs.org.uk
Northampton Hebrew Congregation (Orthodox Synagogue) 95-97 Overstone Road Northampton. NN1 3JW For visits of up to 50 students, contact Michael Necus on 07811 420514/ 01604 633345 (Resource packs available for visiting schools) www.northantshc.org
Jewish Heritage Walks around Northampton (Jewish medieval and more recent history in the town) led by Marcus Roberts at [email protected]
Board of Deputies of British Jews www.bod.org.uk
PLYMOUTH BRETHREN http://www.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org/about/
SIKHISM
Harkirat Singh School Visitor Sikh Education Service Email: [email protected] and [email protected] Tel: 07968 143546 www.northamptonsikhs.org/services/sikh-education-visits
Amarjit Singh Atwal/ Pindy Kaur Chahal Siri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara & Sikh Community Centre, Youth Club & Museum (SCCYC) 23-25 St George's Street Northampton NN1 2TN Tel: 01604 475802 or 07739 796718 Email: [email protected] www.northamptonsikhs.org
Narinder Singh/ Gurdeep Kaur RBN Gurdwara Cromwell Street Northampton NN1 2TE Tel: 01604 621135 Email: [email protected] www.rbngurdwara.co.uk
Jaswinder Singh Mann Siri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara 23-25 King Street Kettering NN16 8QP Tel: 07970 268872
Jasbir Kaur Gurdwara Baba Zorawar Singh Ji Baba Fateh Singh Ji Phoenix Drive Leadenhall Milton Keynes MK6 5LU Tel: 01908 231663
THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS) http://www.northamptonshirequakers.org/ www.quakers.org
THE SALVATION ARMY www.salvationarmy.org.uk Local contact: http://www.northamptoneastsa.org.uk/
MULTIFAITH CENTRE
For visits, visitors and school staff training:
St Philip’s Centre Limited 2A Stoughton Drive North Leicester LE5 5UB United Kingdom Telephone - 0116 273 3459 [email protected] Riaz Ravat - 0116 2733459 [email protected]
INTER FAITH GROUPS
Inter Faith Groups are a group of diverse faith communities whose members meet together across the country. Within Northamptonshire there are Inter faith Groups in various locations across the county. Schools may be able to access members of these groups to find speakers from a particular faith or about a specific subject and to help facilitate visits to places of worship. www.interfaith.org.uk Tel: 0207 730 0410 Email: [email protected]
Northamptonshire Inter Faith Forum (including Wellingborough Inter Faith Group) www.niff.org.uk
Wellingborough Contact: Cynthia Bailey -Secretary [email protected] Tel 01933 277400 Email: [email protected]
East Northants Faith Group www.enfg.org.uk
Inter Faith Forum for Leicestershire www.leics.gov.uk/faith
Leicester Council of Faiths www.lcof.org.uk
Milton Keynes Inter Faith Group www.interfaithmk.org.uk
West Midlands Faith Forum www.wmfaithsforum.org.uk
Three Faiths Forum www.3ff.org.uk
Peace Mala (An organisation based in a group of schools in Swansea) www.peacemala.org.uk
USEFUL WEBSITES www.bahai.org.uk www.bbc.co.uk/schools www.bod.org.uk (Judaism) www.everyschool.co.uk/r-e.html www.folensonline.ie www.humanismforschools.org.uk www.humanism.org.uk www.humanism.org.uk/store/educational-resources www.jainology.org www.judaism.com www.manorhousebooks.co.uk (Judaism) www.mormon.org.uk www.nasacre.org.uk www.natre.org.uk/ www.religiouseducationcouncil.org.uk/ www.reonline.org.uk/ www.request.org.uk/ www.seedscreative.org.uk (Christian Arts) www.sikhs.org www.sikhiresources.com/ www.sikhistore.com www.smsc.org.uk (spiritual, moral, social & cultural development) www.sofer.co.uk (Judaism) www.theteachernet.co.uk www.totallyjewish.com