This curriculum book explores a series of examples of learning about and learning from promises that are relevant to this age group. The units focus on how religion and belief communities use promises at significant moments of life, how keeping a promise changes behaviour and the presence of promises in sacred text.

The unit for 4 - 6s uses active learnng to think deeply about promises, using the story of the two brothers in the vineyard from the New Tetsament. For 5 - 7s it ensures that the much-used story of Noah keeps the focus on the promises of God, the true meaning of the story for Jews and Christians. For 7 - 9s caring is explored as a response to teaching about promises in Christianity and Sikhism.

Baptism and marriage are two occasions when many people find themselves making promises to their child, one another, the community - and for many people making those promises to God and before God. Baptism is explored with an engaging resource of a series of photos of Abi’s baptism; marriage vows in Judaism, Hinduism and Christianity are expored in an enquiry-style unit of work with 9 - 11s.

ISBN 978-1-905893-73-7
£8.50

Available from RE Today Services - see here

There are classroom resources and activities to enable students to explore the Sikh search for Truth, through examining the experience of Guru Nanak and the words of the Mool Mantar. The search for truthful living is explored through Sikh architecture and values, and by applying Sikh teachings from the Guru Granth Sahib to daily living. Interviews with four teenagers in the UK reveal the impact of their Sikh faithon their lives, with a particular focus on becoming khalsa Sikhs.
A range of practical activities are suggested, developing skills and understanding as students engage with original source materials. Examining Sikh ideas of God, the Gurus and contemporary Sikh young people’s ideas on what it means to be a khalsa Sikh, this book provides an excellent resource for opening up the Sikh faith.

ISBN 978-1-905893-74-4
£9.50

Available from RE Today Services - see here

The seminars are:
1. Knowledge in RE:  what, why and how should pupils know in RE?
            Date: 4 – 6 October 2013, London
            Speakers: Prof Michael Young; Dr Mark Chater; David Hampshire

2. Achievement in RE: what matters and can it be assessed?
              Date: 15 – 17 November 2013 Leicester
              Speakers: Prof Vivienne Baumfield; Dilwyn Hunt; Deborah Weston

3. Effective learning methods for children’s spiritual development for 4 – 11s
              Date: 14 – 16 March 2014, Liverpool
              Speakers: Dr Rebecca Nye; Dr Anna Strhan; Lat Blaylock

What do the Seminars offer?
For teachers and researchers, this is a chance to deepen their engagement with RE by exploring recent research from within and beyond the classroom. Hearing from leading experts in the field and meeting with practitioners from around the country makes for stimulating and challenging discussions, with an emphasis on applying what has been heard.

How do I apply?
Application forms are available below.
Westhill_Seminar_Series_5_Flyer.pdf
W: http://www.retoday.org.uk/courses
E: courses@retoday.org.uk
T: 0121 472 4242

Through the ‘Character and Virtue Education in British Schools’ project, the research Centre is exploring if education could focus more on who students are and the person they most want to become, rather than just on exams and tests. The results from the research will inform future educational policy.

Teachers’ responses - especially RE teachers who have a special interest in the area of character, moral development and wellbeing - are essential to helping consider how this kind of education could be possible.

The Centre would like to invite teachers to take part in a short interview, which will last no more than 30 minutes (at a place and time convenient to you). . If possible, they would also like to survey the year 10 students in your school to gauge their moral awareness. This survey should not take more than 30 minutes to complete. All responses will be anonymised and kept completely confidential so that individuals cannot be identified.

If you are interested in taking part in the project and sharing your views and/or those of your students, or would like more information, then please contact Michael Roberts on 0121 414 4851 or at m.p.roberts@bham.ac.uk.

Details of speakers are found in the following course flyer:
Faraday_Course_July_2013.pdf

Dates: 7 - 13 July 2013
Venue: Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge

Bursaries to cover the course fee (including food and accommodation) are available for RE teachers and trainee teachers of RE.

To find out more and to book your place contact www.faraday-institute.org or 01223 741 281

The three first prize winners, who will receive £300 each are:
Max Baker, Adam’s Grammar School, Shropshire
Matthew Herbert, Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School
Bede Kelly,  Southend High School for Boys

The ten winners of the £100 runner-up prizes are:
Catherine Tran, King Edward VI High School for Girls, Birmingham
Daniella Read, Ashton Community Science College, Lancashire
Caitlin French, King Edward VI Handsworth School, Birmingham
Tommy Heath, Stradbroke High School, Suffolk
Imogen Gosling, Cheltenham Ladies College
Sarah Strickland, Manchester High School for Girls
Emma Kensett, King’s High School for Girls, Warwick
Rachel Moran, William Farr C of E School, Lincoln
Adam Ruiz, King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon
Hayleigh Todd, Parkside Sports College, Durham

The judging, done by Professor Russell Stannard, used criteria which were part of the competition from the start, and all students who entered essays will receive certificates of commendation. Schools who entered the competition will shortly receive our mailing of certificates and prizes for the winners.

RE Today and Professor Stannard would like to thank all teachers and students for their participation: we were very impressed by the overall quality of the work done in the competition, which shows that considering big issues through RE is alive and well in our schools. We will be reporting the competition’s successes in a feature in September’s RE Today magazine, and in an official report to the John Templeton Foundation.

Details of the posts are below. If you are interested, please email email examine@aqa.org.uk for an application pack, quoting reference number RS314080 for the Chair of Examiners and RSP314080 for the Principal Examiner.

Closing date: 05/05/2013

Chair of Examiners / Principal Examiner - A-level Religious Studies

We have two vacancies to join our A-level Religious Studies senior examiner team. This is a unique opportunity for a Religious Studies professional with a genuine passion and expertise in this subject to join the UK’s largest awarding body.

The Chair of Examiners will have a strategic role overseeing the product development process and the Principal Examiner is responsible for setting the question paper and mark scheme. The appointments will be effective from late Spring 2013 and can be worked around other professional commitments, such as teaching or lecturing. The work is primarily home based, however, we do ask that you attend around ten meetings throughout the year.

What we are looking for:
The ideal candidate will have subject expertise in Religious Studies and familiarity with the A-level Religious Studies qualification. Your career history will include teaching experience of the subject and external examining experience. Applicants will be confident in leading a team and chairing meetings.  You will possess excellent communication skills and good IT skills.  Training for the role will be provided and further support will be given by the Qualifications Developer and fellow Senior Examiners.

What we offer:
Being a senior examiner can really add value to your CV and your personal development.  We will provide you with full training and support to prepare you for this role.  You will receive full training on the specification and its structure and our philosophy.  We will provide you with membership of the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors (CIEA).

Prof. Jackson, who also works at the European Wergeland Centre in Oslo, is the 12th recipient of the international award since its launch in 1975, and he joins the ranks of Marshall McLuhan, Margaret Mead and Paulo Freire.

Bob will travel to Boston to receive the William Rainey Harper Award this November.

NATRE’s response is below.
NATRE_Response_to_Reform_of_NC_April_2013.pdf

NATRE is a member of the Council for Subject Associations (CFSA). the CfSA’s response is below.
CfSA_Response_to_Reform_of_NC_April_2013.pdf

The Cambridge Primary Review Trust (CPRT) has also submitted a response, which is given below.
CPRT_National_Curriculum_Consultation_Response_April_2013.pdf

Speakers
Sara Hagel of the Peacemakers Project in Birmingham - What is a peaceful school?
Head teachers of two peaceful primary schools on their journey to be Peaceful schools peakers:

Workshops on

• An Emotional Intelligent Curriculum
• Peace across the Curriculm (Global Learning and Diversity)
• Developing Peaceful School Grounds
• Circling to Peace
• Cultivating Mindfulness and Empathy in Teaching
• World Cafe exploring what we mean by a peaceful school

The application form can be downloaded from the Peaceful Schools Movement website. There is an Earlybird discount available for those who retrun their completed booking form by 20 April!