Today I had the opportunity to present some evidence to the Commission on RE. I submitted the text below in advance- it contains more than I was able to deliver in my verbal submission but reflects the beginnings of my thoughts. I enjoyed the opportunity to share some of my views and listen to the … More Evidence to the Commission on RE
In my last blog post I discussed some of the issues surrounding a five year GCSE. This spurred me to explore some aspects of assessment. A fuller discussion can be found in Religious Education in the Secondary School When I first started teaching my Head teacher told me: “R.E. teachers should stop moaning about assessment … More Assessment: one size fits all?
I have been involved in different ways in the development of the new GCSE for Religious Studies and, in many ways, see it as a step forward in building religious literacy but also helping pupils make links between beliefs, teaching and practices. I think it is a way to meet the aims of RE which … More A Five Year GCSE- really?
It has become an accepted idea that teachers’ ways of thinking and understanding are vital components of their practice. Nespor’s article goes on to explore the beliefs of a teacher as to how a subject should be taught. Within my own subject, Religious Education, there are various pedagogies that could be enumerated to fit into … More The Importance of a Coherent Teaching Identity: Reflection on Belief and Education
I was once asked to write an article of a Muslim periodical referring to my views and experiences of teaching Islam. It wasn’t far removed from the events of 9/11 but far enough to have some further perspective: I began teaching in 1997 with little or no background in Islam. I had grown up in … More Views on teaching Islam
