‘I want to praise you like I should’…In praise of face-to-face conferences

The pandemic meant we had to speedily flip the way we worked, and our subject community did it pretty well but nearly 5 years later have we missed something with fewer face-to-face encounters? We asked a primary and a secondary teacher, Saima Saleh and Chris Giles to share their thoughts. If you agree with them do book StrictlyRE, face-to-face on Saturday 25th January 2025 and look out for the face-to-face AREIAC/AULRE conference on 26/27 June 2025.

Attending subject conferences allows teachers to network with like-minded people and immerse themselves in current thinking. Teachers are exposed to new ideas and resources, helping to reignite their passion for teaching! (Saima)

Finding other people that teach similar specifications or religions as you is invaluable to build skills and synoptic links beyond the curriculum. Conferences create knowledge exchange, support you to innovate, and think more objectively -all so much easier face-to-face. I love to learn about the latest research and developments in education and realising there are other like-minded RE geeks out there has an impact on wellbeing too. According to Forbes insight, 85% of people say face-to-face meetings are key to successful long-term relationships. *Business_Meetings_FaceToFace.pdf

RE Conferences face-to-face provide a community that helps you develop new friendships, important support groups that can be sustained in a subject where you can sometimes feel isolated, and out of your depth. It allows for professional growth in a dynamic and more interactive way, making connections and bonds that often last beyond the day. Building trust and rapport with RE enthusiasts and likeminded people takes time and when an email pops into your inbox sharing resources and creative ideas from someone you have connected with, it makes my day. The access to new ideas helps build my own CPD as an RE professional, and I can share these ideas with my team when I return to school. (Chris)

Face-to-face conferences mean I can network! I can connect with my peers, share experiences and build professional relationships. The sense of building human connections is one that is trickier to establish when online. (Saima)

I love being able to shop at the best of times, but the stands at a ‘real’ conference offer all the latest resource publications that I can use in school to help enhance what I teach. (Saima)

I value going stall to stall in the exhibitors’ area looking at new resources and speaking to different organisations. As humans we are social and value interaction. Nikki McGee states, “A conversation with ISKCON stand at Strictly helped me plan my first trip as a head of department to London and also helped me build a relationship with them that meant I could approach them for CPD and subject knowledge support. I am still in touch with them eight years later.” (Chris)

‘Real-life’ workshops, where I can handle resources, sit next to people, converse, and share ideas. I have no distractions unlike being online- my full attention goes into concentrating on whoever is speaking and on the practical ideas being showcased. I know I will remember more when I do more! (Saima)

The buzz and excitement of sitting in a seminar where you can have immediate feedback and interaction between people where you can ask questions, seek clarification, and engage in real-time discussions. (Chris)

The next big conference in the RE/ RVE/ R&W calendar is Strictly RE, NATRE’s annual conference. I think the feeling of knowing that you’re not alone is a very important one. In this busy world, where teachers have so many demands being made of them, knowing that there’s always someone nearby who can help you. (Saima)

Saima Saleh is the Local Groups and Network Lead for NATRE (National Association for Teachers of RE), where she is also on the Steering Group. She leads R&W at Ravenscote Junior School in Surrey. Saima is also a member of the Surrey SACRE and she has delivered much CPD nationally. She co-runs a Race and Education Film club that allows her to speak at conferences across the globe.

Chris Giles is Head of RS and leads Teaching and Learning at South Bromsgrove High School. He is RE Hub lead for the West Midlands, is on the Executive for the National Association for Teachers of RE (NATRE) and has delivered CPD on RE nationally.