RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2012
Issue No: 11 Contact: Annie Chamberlain Date: January 2012 Tel: 01823 356037 Email: sacre@somerset.gov.uk
In this issue:
RE Celebration Week: Somerset Schools 2012 The Barbara Agutter Award: Planning Ahead New Schemes of Learning Planned For AMV Holocaust Memorial Day Champion CPD Support in RE for Somerset Schools Updating Advice on Collective Worship Hockerill Prize: Deadline Approaches RE in Academies Farmington Fellowships 2012-13 The Westhill Trust Seminars Hajj Exhibition Inter Faith Week Reports Ready Reference Update Support for Teaching about World Religions
SACRE Newsletter - Spring 2012 1
RE CELEBRATION WEEK: SOMERSET SCHOOLS 2012
SACRE member Ralph Bullock writes:
This is an early announcement of a special week of RE across all Somerset schools which is being organised by Somerset SACRE.
It is planned to take place in the week before the half term break, 22 – 26 October 2012.
There will be opportunities around the county for schools to share dance/drama performances and children’s work at a number of venues. These venues are yet to be determined but will probably be volunteering secondary schools!
Are you interested in being a host school?
The plan is for local primary schools alongside the hosting secondary school, to share current RE work through the performance arts and share past RE work (writing, artwork etc) on display boards.
In order to prevent additional work for everyone in the first half of the Autumn Term, you are encouraged to save pieces of work from 2011-2012 for display purposes. Our aim is to celebrate RE and not a particular school’s achievements and the work will be displayed with no school name. Details of how much display space will be available, will be sent later.
So, please start planning for this exciting event by collecting children’s work now and by thinking about bringing your Autumn Term 2012 RE alive, through the performance arts.
SACRE will write to all schools again early in the Summer Term of 2012 with more details and in order to get a firm commitment of involvement to aid the overall planning process.
In the mean time please contact Dave Francis [email protected] or Ralph Bullock [email protected] if you want to talk over any matters or to express an interest in hosting a celebration event at your school.
THE BARBARA AGUTTER AWARD: PLANNING AHEAD
Why not tie in your ideas for the Somerset SACRE RE Celebration Week (above) with an entry for this year’s Barbara Agutter Award?
SACRE member, Mike Tedstone, reported that Buckler’s Mead, were sad to give back the Award banner. He also reported the enthusiasm of this year’s winners, Berrow CofE Primary, on receiving the banner.
The closing date for this year’s competition is 15 June 2012 and further details and the application form can be found on the Somerset SACRE website at: www.six.somerset.gov.uk/ > Barbara Agutter Award.
SACRE Newsletter - Spring 2012 2 NEW SCHEMES OF LEARNING PLANNED FOR AMV
Somerset SACRE, with the support of the Somerset Association of Primary Headteachers and Officers (SAPHTO) has set up a working party project to write additional schemes of learning for the new agreed syllabus.
The first meeting – a free afternoon’s training session, takes place later this month. The project will continue with email support during February and March while the group members develop their planning. A twilight editorial meeting will be held for the working group in March, followed by further email contact and a production afternoon meeting for all group members in June. There will then be a period of further editorial work before new schemes are uploaded to the AMV website in the Summer.
Don’t forget that the website for our new locally agreed syllabus, Awareness, Mystery and Value (AMV) 2011 (http://amv.somerset.gov.uk/) already contains some exemplars and planning ideas as well as the complete schemes of work for the previous syllabus which may be adapted for the new programme of study.
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY CHAMPION
This year’s theme for Holocaust Memorial Day on Friday 27 January 2012 asks us all to Speak Up, Speak Out to create a safer, better future. According to the HMD website, ‘The theme asks us to think about the rights, responsibility and duty we all have to speak up when we see or hear something which we believe to be wrong.’ See www.speakupnow.org.uk/ for details. A Pack of HMD 2012 resources is now available later this year and may be ordered at http://education.hmd.org.uk/.
Help is also at hand for the Day in the form of the Jewish representative for SACRE, Mr Leonard Daniels, who will visit schools to talk about his family’s experiences of the Holocaust and how this affects us all today. Contact him via email: [email protected].
If you would like to organise an event for the Day, help is available from Jinny Uppington, the Equality Development Officer for the South West and the Regional Champion for the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. For more information contact her [email protected] or Tel 01823 250832, or 07791 074 335.
Also on offer from the Holocaust Education Trust is a four-part course for two students, aged 16-19, from your school or college, called The Lessons from Auschwitz Project. For details go to www.lfaproject.org.uk.
See also a website aiming help Key Stage 3 students understand the Holocaust at http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/. The website contains interviews with Jewish survivors as well as an introduction to aspects of Jewish life and religion. The resource includes ideas for cross-topic teaching themes, an extensive bank of film and images cleared for use in educational settings and an interactive timeline that offers insights from over 100 years of related information.
SACRE Newsletter - Spring 2012 3 CPD SUPPORT IN RE FOR SOMERSET SCHOOLS
For Secondary RE teachers, there will be an RE Conference on Monday 5 February 2012, from 9.00 to 4.00pm at The Canalside Conference Centre (just off Junction 24 of the M5). Details are found on SiX: www.six.somerset.gov.uk/ > search ‘Religious Education’. Closing date is Monday 16 January.
For Primary RE Coordinators, there is the afternoon training event on Tuesday 7 February 2012, from 1.15 to 4.45pm at The Canalside Conference Centre (just off Junction 24 of the M5). There are still a few vacancies for this course, but places are being allocated on a first come, first served basis and the booking form (already sent to schools, but also available on request from me at [email protected]) should be returned by Friday 20 January 2012.
More bespoke training is also available for subject leaders and all staff involved in teaching RE. I can:
Assist in preparing for (or responding to) Ofsted inspection, especially in relation to spiritual, moral, social and cultural development Review and report on RE and/or collective worship in your school Observe, support and work alongside individual teachers in the classroom Lead INSET on RE and/or collective worship for all staff or smaller groups, and on making most effective use of our new agreed syllabus Train staff in developing their own knowledge and understanding of the main world religions and belief systems Help to draw up collective worship and RE policy documents and/or units of work Arrange school visits to places of worship and other relevant locations for field work in RE Demonstrate active learning techniques and appropriate resources for RE Make presentations on RE and/or collective worship to governors, parents and the wider school community Advise on issues arising from the interface between religion and school life, for example in connection with diet and dress
Please contact me directly at [email protected] for further information.
UPDATING ADVICE ON COLLECTIVE WORSHIP
Excellent presentations were given by Helen Harrison, the former RE Adviser for Lancashire, at this year’s SACRE conference for school governors, Headteachers and SACRE members on effective RE and collective worship.
Following the conference, plans were put in place to update Somerset’s guidance for schools on Collective Worship.
Guidance will be placed on the SACRE pages of the council website at: www.six.somerset.gov.uk/ > ‘Policies, Guidance and Publications’.
SACRE Newsletter - Spring 2012 4 HOCKERILL PRIZE: DEADLINE APPROACHES
The deadline for the Hockerill/NATRE Award for Innovation in RE is Tuesday 31 January 2012, with the successful prize winners being notified by Easter.
Details of the prize and how to apply are found on the website of the Hockerill Educational Foundation at www.hockerillfoundation.org.uk.
The prize is in two parts:
a) £700 for the school to enable it to purchase new RE materials b) £400 as a bursary to the teacher to part-fund attendance at a specialist educational course for RE
The prize recognises that the needs and requirements of the Primary and Secondary sectors are different and is therefore given separately in each sector. The prizes will be presented at one of the Hockerill/NATRE RE PGCE conferences in the late spring/early summer of 2012.
RE IN ACADEMIES
According to their funding agreement, Academies have to provide religious education for all registered pupils, unless withdrawn by their parents. A document explaining the situation for different types of academy has been drawn up by NATRE and can be found at: http://www.natre.org.uk/free.php
When it comes to the inspection of Academies, inspectors will ask what is the basis on which an Academy teaches RE, and whether they have a set of standards. If these are provided, then inspection proceeds on this basis. In the absence of these, then inspection would be based on the National levels. For academies in the Awareness, Mystery and Value (AMV) area, the standards are those provided in the agreed syllabus documentation, that is, the ‘Can-do’ level statements found at: http://tinyurl.com/AMVlevels
FARMINGTON FELLOWSHIPS 2012-13
Fellowships for RE research are about to close for secondary and primary teachers and teachers of RE to children with special educational needs for the academic year 2012-13. Headteachers who wish to undertake research into either Religious Education or Values Education are also eligible to apply.
The Fellowship will pay costs and salary of a replacement teacher for one term and enable the Fellow to gain support from one of a number of universities, including Bath Spa.
Application forms and details can be downloaded from the Farmington website: http://www.farmington.ac.uk/fellowships_and_awards/fellowships.html.
The closing date for applications is Monday 30 January 2012.
SACRE Newsletter - Spring 2012 5 THE WESTHILL TRUST SEMINARS
The Westhill 48-hour residential seminars enable classroom teachers from primary and secondary schools, professionals involved in training RE teachers, researchers and RE academics to meet and work together in a stimulating weekend of exchange and ideas.
The next one in our region takes place in Bristol from 16-18 March 2012 and is entitled, ‘The Primary RE Curriculum: current directions’. It will feature presentations from Professor Teresa Cremin of the Open University, Dr Karen Walshe of Exeter University and Dave Francis of Somerset and North Somerset.
The cost of the seminar to delegates is £100, inclusive of full board in conference accommodation. It starts on Friday evening with a meal and the first keynote address, and run until Sunday afternoon.
Application forms are available at http://www.retoday.org.uk/news/westhill-trust- seminars.
HAJJ EXHIBITION
The British Museum is mounting a major exhibition called, ‘Hajj – Journey to the heart of Islam’ from 26 January to 15 April 2012. The exhibition will chart the history of the deeply personal journey that is the Hajj.
There is a special preview of the Exhibition for teachers on 30 January (6pm – 8pm), workshops for primary and secondary pupils, and an invitation to contribute your own thoughts on Hajj or Umrah in up to 150 words.
Places can be booked via www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/hajj.aspx
INTER FAITH WEEK REPORTS
The Inter Faith Network UK has reported that Inter Faith Week 2011 has been a great success. Inter Faith Week 2011 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland drew to a close on Saturday 26 November.
The Network’s website will be updated over the coming weeks with more information about the 2011 Week, including the media coverage and photos sections, along with the new videos section.
See http://www.interfaithweek.org/ for details.
SACRE Newsletter - Spring 2012 6 READY REFERENCE UPDATE: JANUARY 2012
WEB SUPPORT FOR AMV for new agreed syllabus requirements and guidance go to http://amv.somerset.gov.uk/. The old AMV schemes of work and guidance are now included in the new site.
Please note that the new ONLINE SELF-EVALUATION TOOLKIT is now available at: http://betterre.reonline.org.uk/lead_manage/toolkit.php/. This includes the option of printing out an RE Improvement Plan based on your answers. All Somerset schools are encouraged to complete the online self- evaluation.
THE SOMERSET SACRE WEBSITE is found at: www.six.somerset.gov.uk/sacre/. This includes contact details for visiting speakers and contacts for making visits to places of interest for RE. There is also a list of all the resource bases in the county with contact details.
Find out more about the work of SACREs up and down the country via the National Association of SACREs (NASACRE) website at http://www.nasacre.org.uk/
THE RE:QUEST WEBSITE contains specific links to the AMV syllabus. Go to: www.request.org.uk/teachers/syllabus/awareness/aware01.htm
RE CPD HANDBOOK: The DCSF and the RE Council of England and Wales has produced an online CPD Handbook for primary and secondary teachers of RE. In addition to guidance on teaching, learning and assessment in RE, the Handbook includes contributions from teachers, faith communities, advisers, and academics: www.re-handbook.org.uk.
MAJOR RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS: www.culham.ac.uk/tvr/festcalendar.php
TEACHERS TV Resources to support Primary RE. Several 15 minute programmes can be found at: www.teachersmedia.co.uk/
SUPPORT FOR TEACHING ABOUT WORLD RELIGIONS
For all speakers, please arrange to cover their expenses and any fees directly with the individuals involved. Most communities are happy for you to visit without charge, though you may like to consider making a donation on a ‘per pupil’ basis.
For Bristol places of worship and contacts, see list below.
BUDDHISM
Mike Keogh (Triratna Buddhist Community (formerly FWBO): Tel: 07775 928722; email [email protected] Paula-Boudica Brightwell: (Nichiren Daishonin) Tel: 01458 443275 or 07952 409024. Lam Rim Tibetan: www.lamrim.org.uk/lrb_info.htm
SACRE Newsletter - Spring 2012 7 CHRISTIANITY
For Christian churches see: www.findachurch.co.uk/index.html Mike Strange, manager of the RE:Quest website, may also be available to talk to staff or work with pupils on using the site. Email: [email protected]
HINDUISM
Dhirashanta Das (ISKCON), Tel: 01566 786965, email: [email protected] Ganga Devi (ISKCON), Tel: 01761 462161, email: [email protected] Please note that Christina Bramble has now moved to West Sussex.
ISLAM
Imam Ilyaas Limbada, Yeovil Mosque, 8 Westminster Street/Clarence Street, Yeovil, BA20 1AE. Tel: 01935 412685. Best to email some suggested dates for your visit to: [email protected]. The Imam and his wife, Amina, are very pleased to receive school groups to visit the mosque and learn about Islam.
JUDAISM
Exeter Synagogue, Synagogue Place, Mary Arches Street, Exeter, EX4 3BA. They prefer age 8+, and charge £1 per pupil per visit. Contact Dr Paul Newgass, (President, Exeter Synagogue), who will also visit your school to talk about the Holocaust on: 01392 251529 or email: [email protected] Robin and Arnold Kanarek Tel: 01935 263667, email: [email protected] Mrs Jane Silver-Corren is available for assemblies/INSET. Tel: 01308 459320 or email [email protected]
SIKHISM
Gurdial Singh is available to visit schools and/or arrange visits to a Gurdwara in Bristol. Tel: 0117 956 6976 or 07981 130188 Email: [email protected]
PLACES OF WORSHIP IN BRISTOL
BUDDHIST COMMUNITY
Amitabha Buddhist Centre (New Kadampa Tradition) Old Vicarage, Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol, BS7 8NX Tel: 0117 974 5160 – Gen Kelsang Chonden & Kelsang Rak-ma Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Web: www.meditationinbristol.org or www.kadampa.org (international)
Triratna (Friends of the Western Buddhist Order) Bristol Buddhist Centre 162 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol, BS7 8NT Tel: 0117 924 9991, email: [email protected] Web: www.bristol-buddhist-centre.org or www.fwbo.org (international)
SACRE Newsletter - Spring 2012 8 Sakya Thinley Rinchen Ling Buddhist Centre (Tibetan Sakya-pa) 121 Sommerville Road, St Andrews, Bristol, BS6 5BX Tel: 0117 924 4424 – Centre Coordinators: Carl Rogers also David Armstrong Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.dechen.org/centres/southwest/bristol.html or www.dechen.org
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
Independent Baptist Kensington Baptist Church 208 Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0NX Tel: 0117 951 1202 – Office Manager: Malina Gitahi Email: [email protected], Web: www.kenbaptist.org
Church of England www.anglicancommunion.org, www.cofe.anglican.org or www.bristol.anglican.org
Bristol Cathedral, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TJ The Dean – The Very Revd Robert Grimley Tel: 0117 926 4879 – Administrator: Andrew Phillips Email: [email protected] Tel: 0117 904 6903 – Canon Wendy Wilby, Email: [email protected] Web: www.bristol-cathedral.co.uk
St Mary Redcliffe, Redcliffe Way, Bristol, BS1 6SP Tel: 0117 929 1487 – Parish Administrator: Pat Terry or 0117 929 1487 – Revd Dr Simon Taylor Email: [email protected], Web: www.stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Orthodox www.sourozh.org (Russian Orthodox Church) www.nostos.com (Greek Orthodox Church) www.bristol-orthodox-church.org.uk
Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God University Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1SP. Tel: 0117 925 3878 or 0117 970 6302 – Parish Priest: Archimandrite Kyril Jenner or 0117 972 0195 – Secretary: Anthony Hearn Email: [email protected] Web: www.bristol-orthdox-church.org.uk or www.thyateira.org.uk
Society of Friends (Quaker) www.quaker.org.uk Redland Quakers Friends Meeting House, 126 Hampton Road, Redland, Bristol, BS6 6JE. Tel: 0117 974 1923 – Wardens: Bill and Louise Thatcher Web: www.bristolquakers.org.uk
Roman Catholic www.Catholic-ew.org.uk or www.cliftondiocese.com – good route to full list of parish churches.
Cathedral Church of St Peter and Paul Clifton Park, Bristol, BS8 3BX Tel: 0117 973 8411 – Canon Robert Corrigan Email: [email protected], Web: www.cliftoncathedral.org.uk
SACRE Newsletter - Spring 2012 9 HINDU COMMUNITY
The Bristol Hindu Temple 163B Church Road, Redfield, Bristol, BS5 9LA Tel: 0117 935 1007 – Panditji Kamlesh Vyas Email: [email protected], Web: www.bristolhindutemple.co.uk
JEWISH COMMUNITY
Bristol Hebrew Congregation – Orthodox 9 Park Row, Clifton, Bristol, BS1 5LP Tel: 0117 927 3334 – Synagogue Email: [email protected], Web: www.brijnet.org/bristol
Bristol and West progressive Jewish Congregation 43-47 Bannerman Road, Easton, Bristol BS5 0RR Email: [email protected], Web: www.bwpjc.org
MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Easton Masjid St Marks Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 6DH. Tel: 0117 951 0317
Shah Jalal Jame Mosque 468 Stapleton Road, Bristol, BS5 6PA. Tel: 0117 951 9988
Community Groups Bristol Muslim Cultural Society 404 Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0JE Tel: 0117 952 1802 – Mr Farooq Siddique – will arrange guided tours of a mosque. Email: [email protected], Web: www.bmcs.org.uk
SIKH COMMUNITY
Bristol Sikh Temple Shri Guru Nanak Prakash Singh Sabha Gurdwara 71-75 Fishponds Road, Eastville, Bristol, BS5 6SF Tel: 0117 902 0104 – General Secretary: Mr Manjit Singh
Ramgarhia Gurdwara 81-83 Chelsea Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 8HS Tel: 0117 955 4229 – Secretary: Mohan Singh Mather
Sangat Shat Singh Sabha Gurdwara 11 Summerhill Road, St George, Bristol, BS5 8HG. Tel: 0117 955 9333 – General Secretary: Mr Baldev Singh Roudh
Siri Guru Singh Sabha 301-307 Church Road, St George, Bristol, BS5 8AH Tel: 0117 939 7290 – Office or 0117 956 6420 – Chairman: Mr S S Bisla or 07981 130188 – Treasurer: Mr Gurdial Singh
OTHER SACRED SPACES
Elsie Briggs House of Prayer 38 Church Road, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS9 3EQ Tel: 0117 750 6451 – Warden Email: [email protected], Web: www.elsiebriggshouse.org.uk
John Wesley Chapel 36 The Horsefair, Bristol, BS1 3JE. Tel: 0117 926 4740
George Muller Foundation (a Christian philanthropist who set up orphanages) 7 Cotham Park, Bristol, BS6 6DA. Tel: 0117 924 5001
SACRE Newsletter - Spring 2012 10 SOMERSET SACRE
Somerset Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) is made up of representatives from the council, and local religious and teachers’ organisations. It conducts all of its business through the local authority.
To see who is on Somerset SACRE and to access support materials, go to: www.six.somerset.gov.uk/sacre/. Recent items include a guide to RE policy, a guide to curriculum time to be allocated to RE and guidance for parents and pupils with certain religious beliefs.
If you would like this Newsletter emailed directly to your inbox, please contact Dave Francis, Somerset Associate RE Adviser, at [email protected]
SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL
Somerset County Council values diversity, and celebrates cultural and social differences. Our Equal Opportunities Promise is to provide all services of equal quality which meet your needs and fulfil your rights. You can expect us to treat you fairly, with respect and dignity, and to be understanding of whoever you are and whatever your background.
"Working together for equalities"
This document is also available in Braille, large print, on tape and on disc and we can translate it into different languages. We can provide a member of staff to discuss the details.
SACRE Newsletter - Spring 2012 11