The RE Podcast

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Last year, Ofsted published it's new inspection framework and the word that weaves through everything is INCLUSION. It is now a separate area of inspection. And the list of students we need to include is broader than before.
So how do we help ALL students in our classrooms to achieve, belong and thrive - the three words in the back of every Ofsted Inspectors mind.
Surprisingly, very little research has been done into how to support SEND in our mainstream RE classrooms.  Luckily, the answer isn't as difficult or as time consuming as you might think.
'If we get it right for vulnerable students, we get it right for all' This quote by Sir Martyn Oliver sums up the message in this episode.  Quality First Teaching is what helps ALL students, particularly those with barriers to learning.
In this episode I give the current stats on SEND student, look at the areas in the renewed Ofsted guidelines that are relevant to inclusion, look at how to plan for SEND students, how to resource for them, design powerpoints for them, support them with the right pedagogy and when to give bespoke support.  I also look at how you can create an atmosphere in your class that promotes students with poor mental health.
And I give specific examples of what that might look like in RE.
I really hope this is a practical episode which positively impacts your RE classrooms.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/200-million-landmark-send-teacher-training-programme

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68b9a6b8b0a373a01819fe4b/Schools_inspection_toolkit.pdf
https://news.sky.com/story/how-children-with-send-from-poorer-families-are-being-left-behind-at-school-13450800

EEF Blog: Five evidence-based strategies to support high-quality teaching for pupils with SEND
EEF Blog: Supporting pupils with SEND – 3 key messages for schools

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7dcb85ed915d2ac884d995/SEND_Code_of_Practice_January_2015.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/access-arrangements-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-2024-to-2025-academic-year/access-arrangements-for-gcse-as-and-a-level-2024-to-2025-academic-year
https://www.kialo-edu.com/p/470f6228-2213-467d-bbdb-dcb915057db8/356549

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Fiona Moss is back on the podcast to tell us all about the leadership scholarship programme run by Culham St Gabriel.
If you are a leader of RE with a role wider than your school and you want to take the next steps in your career then this is the programme for you

We discuss how and why it started,  who should consider applying, some of the recent developments in the programme. Plus we hear from past and current educators from the programme. They will tell us how the programme has shaped or transformed their development as a leader, what they found most valuable about the programme, where the programme has taken them and why they think people should apply to the Leadership Scholarship programme.

If you want to find out more, sign up for the webinar on 10th February, website
https://www.cstg.org.uk/events/leadership-scholarship-programme-introductory-webinar-registration/
More information can be found at;
https://www.cstg.org.uk/scholarship-programmes/leadership/
In the episode we will give out dates and deadlines.

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This week I am look at GCSE AQA Theme B Religion and Life. I will go through the main content, and apply this to a 4, 6, and 12-mark questions.
I think the following Bible passage is the foundation of Theme B;
“Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

4-marker
Explain two similar religious beliefs in contemporary British society that are used to oppose animal experimentation. In your answer you must refer to the main religious tradition of Great Britain and one or more other religious traditions.
Some Christians oppose animals experimentation because of their belief in stewardship which is a belief that they have a duty to care for God’s creation
This is because God created everything and said it was good so they should not harm it
A similar Christian belief is that experimenting on animals for cosmetics is wrong because it is currently against the law in the UK
This is because Christians believe they should follow the law of the land
4-marker
Explain two reasons why many religious people protect the environment. Refer to sacred writings or another source of religious belief and teaching in your answer.
Some Christians may protect the environment because they believe in stewardship - the duty to care and protect the earth.
This is because they believe the earth belongs to God
In The Bible it says ‘the earth is the Lord's and everything in it’
This means that if the earth and everything in it belongs to God, it doesn’t belong to humans so Christians must protect it out of respect to God
Another Christian belief is that we should protect the environment in order to protect human life
This is because humans can only survive if we look after the planet that sustains us.

12-marker
People who value and protect human life will be rewarded in the afterlife.’
Evaluate this statement.
In your answer you:
• should give reasoned arguments in support of this statement
• should give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view
• should refer to religious arguments
• may refer to non-religious arguments
• should reach a justified conclusion

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In this series I am doing a deep dive into AQA Paper 2: Themes.  I have done an overview of Paper 2 so if you haven't listened to that one you might want to do that first.
In this episode I will briefly go through all the key content for Theme A Relationships and Family and apply it to 4, 6 and 12-mark questions. 
The three focus topics for this unit are;
Contraception.
Sexual relationships before marriage.
Same sex relationships.
But we will also look at; 
Human sexuality including: heterosexual 
Sexual relationships outside of marriage.
Family planning.
The nature and purpose of marriage.
Same-sex marriage and cohabitation.
Divorce, including reasons for divorce, and remarrying.
Ethical arguments related to divorce, including those based on the sanctity of marriage vows and compassion.
The nature of families, including:
the role of parents and children
extended families and the nuclear family.
The purpose of families, including:
procreation
stability and the protection of children
educating children in a faith.
Contemporary family issues including:
same-sex parents
polygamy.
The roles of men and women.
Gender equality.
Gender prejudice and discrimination, including examples.
4-markers
Explain two different beliefs in contemporary British society about the use of artificial contraception within marriage. In your answer you should refer to the main religious tradition of Great Britain and one or more other religious traditions.
Some Christians believe that it is wrong because it a human preventing life being created
This is because they believe only God should be able to create or prevent life
However, other Christians believe that it is acceptable because it prevents unwanted children
Family planning is seen as a loving action to ensure every child is able to be cared for in a family.

6-markers
Explain two religious beliefs about the role of parents in a religious family. Refer to sacred writings or another source of religious belief and teaching in your answer
Christians believe that one role is to bring their child up in the faith
This means they will take them to Church, teach them how to pray and read the Bible
This is because of the Bible where it says ‘teach your child the way they should go and they will not stray from it’
This quote shows that the hope for parents is that their children will make their own commitment when they are older.
Another role is to provide stability for their family
They can do this by working hard at their relationship to ensure they stay together.

12-marker
‘Divorce is never right.’

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This episode is an introduction to GCSE AQA Religious Studies Paper 2
In this episode we will cover some of the key mistakes pupils make in Paper 2 as it is organised slightly differently from Paper 1, go through some top tips that you will need to get the maximum mark possible and look at the different question styles that you will encounter in your exam to help give you the confidence to know what you need to do in the real paper. 
Sample exam papers;
https://cdn.sanity.io/files/p28bar15/green/d5bcec89967bac72569df625ad4f90c8b8cc6d97.pdf?_gl=1*13sp7lm*_gcl_au*MTI4ODYxMjIzOC4xNzYwNDU5MTI
4 markers
Explain two different beliefs in contemporary British society about abortion. In your answer you should refer to the main religious tradition of Great Britain and one or more other religious traditions.
Some Christians believe that it is wrong because it is ending the life of a human.  
This is because they believe in the sanctity of life which is that all life is sacred. 
A different Christian belief is that it is sometimes necessary for example if the mothers life is at risk.  
This is because they believe that the mothers life is more important than the foetus’ particularly if she has other children
Explain two similar religious beliefs about gender equality. In your answer you must refer to one or more religious traditions.
Most Christians believe that gender equality is important because all humans are equal.  
This is because God made all humans in his image.  
A similar Christian belief is that gender equality is important because God loves all humans equally.  
This is because God is omnibenevolent which means all loving. 
6-markers
THEME E Explain two religious beliefs about forgiveness. Refer to sacred writings or another source of religious belief and teaching in your answer. 
Christians believe that God is forgiving so will forgive criminals for their crime 
This is because Christians believe God is all loving and forgiveness is a loving action 
Christians also believe they should forgive other people who have committed crime against them.
This is because in the Lord’s prayer it is ‘forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us’
This shows Christians that if they are receiving God’s forgiveness, they should then forgive criminals.

THEME C Explain two religious beliefs about miracles. Refer to sacred writings or another source of religious belief and teaching in your answer. 
THEME D Explain two religious beliefs about forgiveness. Refer to sacred writings or another source of religious belief and teaching in your answer. 
12 Marker
Theme C The design argument proves that God exists.’ Evaluate this statement.

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