RE is a complicated subject to plan if you are a subject specialist. If you are a busy primary school teacher, who is also planning Maths, Reading, Writing, Geography, History and the rest, then that complexity can be very time-consuming. Crafting a lesson containing accurate substantive knowledge, shaped by disciplinary approaches and with space for pupils to reflect on their own personal knowledge can take hours of your time. And that’s before you search for diverse perspectives, authentic voices, case studies and data to explore.
This is why in the last year, I have begun to recommend to colleagues that they investigate RE:Online from Culham St Gabriel’s Trust when planning. In many ways, it is a one-stop shop for resources and information that we are looking for. Plus, you can guarantee that Culham St Gabriel’s resources have been quality-assured by subject specialists, reviewed by members of organised worldview communities and edited in response to feedback.
With this in mind, here are my top five time-saving resources available at RE:Online:
Five – Blogs
Now, this may seem an odd place to start. I mean how are blogs going save me time planning, but trust me these are blogs written in many cases by classroom practitioners and full of practical ideas and thought-provoking ideas. Not sure how to explore worldviews through case studies well there’s a blog for that. What if you’re not sure how to explore different disciplinary lenses with Years 5 and 6 or develop your knowledge of Humanism? Well, guess what? There are blogs here to help. Clear, concise and reliable blogs brimming with practical insights that will shape units, lessons and ultimately lives. Yes, please.
Four – Glossary
We all understand the impact vocabulary can have on children’s learning and engagement. In RE vocabulary is often complicated by other factors such as teacher confidence, words from other languages or nuanced definitions – just ask teachers of 9-11 year olds about resurrection and reincarnation. Well, RE:Online’s glossary has your back as it provides succinct explanations for vocabulary across a wide-range of worldviews. This allows you to give accurate definitions to pupils. In my context, where I my planning is used by different teachers, the glossary ensures parity for all children and consistent definitions across the school.
Three – Core Knowledge and In-depth Knowledge Essays
For me, one of the most important aspects of RE is ensuring that my subject knowledge across different worldviews is current and comprehensive. I have been a practicing Christian for many years and so my knowledge is particularly strong in that tradition. But, I don’t want to short-change my pupils. What about my subject knowledge of other worldviews or traditions? Well, here’s where the Knowledge essays both Core and In-depth can help. Depending on your needs, you can either use these readable essays to grasp the basics or to stretch and challenge your knowledge. The brand-new videos sitting alongside them mean that you can share aspects of this knowledge at the click of a button. Brilliant!
Two – Useful websites for Primary
Now, ok, this one feels like cheating because really it’s a resource that that takes you out into the wild world of the internet, but for me it’s a true teacher-life hack. Here you can find links to reliable tried and tested resources. As a subject leader and Trust Lead Practitioner, I can tell you that this resource is an essential gift for your colleagues. It will point them to big resources like TrueTube or to less-visited websites like the Free Churches Group or the Shap Calendar Group.
One – Voices of Lived Religions and Worldviews
High-quality RE relies on pupils being able to engage with the lived experience of everyday people. Lessons need to include the voice of those with the worldviews being studied. But, where do you find these voices. Well, look no further. Culham St Gabriel’s has asked a wide-range of questions to followers of many different worldviews. I used to spend hours searching Youtube and newspaper articles for these voices. Now, instead, I head straight to RE:Online so that my pupils will have access to authentic voices representing the current lived experience today. Incredible!
About
Chris Mooney is a Deputy Headteacher and RE Subject Leader at a primary school in the Cotswolds. He is the lead practitioner for RE across The Diocese of Gloucester Academies Trust and is passionate about supporting teachers to deliver teaching across the curriculum.