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Every year ATRES hold a conference at Scottish Churches House in Dunblane. This conference is open to those involved in the teaching and promotion of RME in Scotland.
This year's conference took place on 10th - 11th May 2008 and was entitled "Towards Excellence in RME".
The conference was opened by our key-note speaker Prof. Brian Boyd of Strathclyde University. Other speakers were: Patricia Watson, HMIe National Specialist for RME; Alexander Massey, Voice Care; and there were also contributions from Learning for Life, SCIAF and Scripture Union. Our final speaker was Iain Gray, former Senior Lecturer in RME at Strathclyde University - many of our current teachers of RME were trained by Iain and his presentation was entitled entitled 'Reflections on a career in RME'. Further materials from our conference will be appearing on the website soon.
You do not have to be a member of ATRES to attend the conference. If you wish to find out more about attending the next conference then please contact our conference secretary Luke Francis at conferencesecretary@atres.org.uk
Important
Many schools pay for teachers to attend this conference as they see it as a useful staff development exercise and a vital part of CPD (Continued Professional Development). You should check with your CPD coordinator.
Some of our previous conferences
The 2007 Conference
This conference took place on 5th - 6th May 2007and was entitled "The Refresher Course".
Our Keynote speaker at the conference was:
Keir Bloomer: From the time of local government reorganisation in 1996 until November, 2000, Keir Bloomer was Executive Director of Education and Community Services with Clackmannanshire Council. He is now Chief Executive of the Council. Keir also continues to be involved in education. He was a member of the review group which wrote "A Curriculum for Excellence". and he acted as one of the advisers to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee of the Scottish Parliament in connection with its Inquiry into the purposes of education. His pamphlet 'Learning to Change: Scottish Education in the Early 21st Century' was published by the Scottish Council Foundation in 2000.
Other speakers at the conference included:
Lat Blaylock: Lat works for RE Today Professional Services as an RE adviser. He is a consultant to the BBC, Christian Aid, numerous local authorities and schools and some publishers. He used to teach RE in an 11-19 multi ethnic comprehensive school in Leicester, and meets about 2000 RE teachers each year through his continuing professional development courses, including some in Scotland. He writes about RE for the TES, RE Today and Resource, and has published numerous resources for RE teachers. He has worked with the BBC to make 4 series of broadcasts in the last few years, including The Test of Time, and Curriculum Bites RE. Lat has a reputation for practical inspiration.
Noorah al-Gailani: Noorah was back at the conference by popular demand. She is the Islamic Civilisations Curator for Glasgow City Council Museums.
Shona Carmichael: Shona is a former Primary Head Teacher who now specialises in running courses which involve Stress Management and Aromatherapy.
This year we also had a variety of groups who presented workshops which introduced themselves and demonstrated what they can provide to refresh our teaching of RME. Groups included: Samye Ling; Christian Aid; RE Today; Bible World; Iona Community Youth Development; Tearfund.
The 2006 Conference
The 2006 conference was entitled: "Reflections on Diversity" and took place on 7th-8th May.
Speakers at the conference included:
Noorah al-Gailani (Islamic Civilisations Curator for Glasgow City Council Museums);
Lat Blaylock (Editor of RE Today);
David Hampshire (County Advisor for RE and PSHE/C in Cornwall);
Janet Trevanion (The Learning Game);
Dr Alison Jasper (Stirling University);
Nancy Pearson (Philosophy for Children);
Chris Foxon (Strathclde University).
The 2005 Conference
The conference was entitled: Where do we come from? Who are we? Where are we going? and took place on 7th-8th May 2005 at Scottish Churches House, Dunblane. Here are some pictures.
The 2004 Conference
The 2004 conference took place on 8-9th May 2004 and the theme was 'Maps to the Moral Maze'.
Our keynote speaker was theologian Daphne Hampson from Oxford University.
The 2003 Conference
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In 2003 our conference entitled 'Religion in the New Age' looked at many of the
'big questions' that are facing RME in Scotland today.
The conference took place on 10th - 11th May 2003.
The speakers and contributers to the conference were:
Councillor Rev. Ewan Aitken who was the Executive member for Education on the City of Edinburgh Council. He is also a freelance broadcaster and writes for various publications including articles for TES. Ewan gave the keynote address on the subject 'Religion in the New Age' and also a session on 'Religion and Politics'.
John Brown who is the national specialist for RME on HMIE. He was involved in
writing materials for Standard Grade Religious Studies as well as helping to
revise Higher Grade Religious Studies. John talk looked at 'Current Issues within RMPS'.
Cath Sinclair who is Principal Teacher of RME at Shawlands Academy as well as
being the part-time RME Staff Development Officer for Clagow City Council.
Cath's session was entitled 'Teaching Islam in the New Age'.
Anne Fleck who is a former Principal Teacher, Assistant Head and SQA Examiner, who has worked with Channel 4 for nine years. One of her roles is to raise awareness of Channel 4's output with a wide range of educational and other bodies, as well as identifying needs and helping in the commissioning process of programmes.
Catriona Ross who is a RME teacher at Auchinleck Academy as well as being PT
Guidance. She is involved in Core RME, Standard Grade as well as Higher Philosophy. Catriona hosted a session on 'Teaching Thinking Skills through RMPS'.
Joe Walker is Principal Teacher of RME at Liberton High School and currently is on secondment to the SQA as its Development Officer for RMPS. He is a past secretary of ATRES and has published several books on Moral Issues including the recently published 'Making Moral Decisions'. Joe's session was entitled 'Morality in the New Age'. |
The 2002 Conference
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The conference for 2002 was entitled 'One World - Many Visions' and it
looked at the important area of Personal Search in RME.
It was held on 11th - 12th May 2002.
The speakers and contributors to the conference were:
Chris Foxon who is the PGCE Co-ordinator, Religious Studies at Jordanhill Campus, Strathclyde University. He was formerly a Principal Teacher of RME at Kilsyth Academy for many years.
Linda Bandelier is a professional storyteller who lives in Scotland but originally comes from Montana, USA. She is recognised by the Methodist Church as their 'minister in storytelling'.
Isabel Gilchrist is a teacher of RME at Stonelaw High School in Rutherglen.
She has recently completed research into raising boys' achievement in
RME through developing their core skills and emotional intelligence and through
implementing specific learning and behaviour strategies.
Christine Howard is a director of Articles of Faith. She has both taught RE and has worked in an advisory capacity. Her first two books on religious artefacts for the classroom have been enthusiastically received.
Ewan Stewart is Principal Teacher of RME at Stonelaw High School,
Rutherglen where he teachers core RME and also certificate Religious Studies and Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies.
He is currently on the ATRES Executive and is responsible for all ATRES Publications and for keeping the ATRES website up to date.
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The 2001 Conference
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The 2001Conference took place on 12th - 13th May and the theme was
'Enlightening Buddhism'.
The speakers and contributors to the conference were:
Karma Jiga who is a senior monk from the Samye Ling monastery at Eskdalemuir
and is the founding President of the Rokpa Trust.
Valerie Kennedy is the Headteacher of a large Primary school in East Kilbride and she
has many years experience of developing and teaching RME in the primary sector.
Robert D. Patterson is a Secondary teacher who has many years experience as
a marker and setter for the SQA examinations, most especially Buddhism at Higher level.
Articles of Faith is a Company which provides Artefacts and Resources to both the
Primary and Secondary sector. |
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