Katie Freeman

Katie Freeman, Chair of NATRE,  tells us about her leadership journey and the importance of listening to those around us as we take up new challenges.

People who know me well might be surprised to hear that my own learning journey as pupil in school was not an easy one. I struggled with many areas of the curriculum and there was always a question mark over what I would go on to do in the future. However, from as far back as I could remember, it was my dream to be a primary school teacher. There were many hurdles that I faced along the way but my wonderful parents, teachers and close family friends encouraged and supported me to reach my goal.

The headteacher of my first school, Liz Hill, saw something in me that perhaps I didn’t see myself and right from the start of my NQT year, encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone. In my second year of teaching, I vividly remember Liz asking me if I would like lead RE in our school. I was already leading the arts and (this may amuse some of you) thought that RE wasn’t something that I was particularly passionate about leading. I agreed to cover the subject for a year and then pass it on so that I could continue my work leading the arts and training to be a SENCo.

I think that it would be safe to say that I had no idea about how to lead RE but I had loved the subject when I was at school so I was keen to do the best job that I could.

Within the first few months of leading RE in my school, I remember Liz calling me into her office for a chat about a new project called Learn, Teach, Lead RE.  She encouraged me to apply for the role of Plymouth RE hub leader. With her help and encouragement, I filled in the paperwork, was invited to an interview and was offered the role as the primary hub leader for Plymouth.  Initially I led the hub with Ian Hartley, a secondary RE teacher in Plymouth. Ian taught me so much about secondary RE, for example how to teach the subject creatively and it was him who encouraged me to join Twitter which would lead me to the next stage of my RE leadership journey.

I genuinely feel that I owe so much to Learn, Teach Lead RE. It was here that I developed my passion and interest for teaching the subject. It was Tatty Wilson (Education Adviser for Exeter Diocese) who encouraged me to have my first article published with REToday and Ed Pawson (RE Adviser) who helped to build my confidence as I began to take on leadership roles outside of Plymouth.

As my understanding and passion for RE developed I became involved in #REChatuk that was run by NATRE. Through this forum, I met Fiona Moss (CEO of NATRE). After being challenged and inspired by Fiona, I applied to be part of the NATRE executive and was lucky enough to be voted in by my teaching colleagues.

By the time I attended my first NATRE meeting, I had given up leading the arts, but refused to give up leading RE and was reading book after book, resource after resource because I was now so interested and passionate about high quality RE for all pupils in all schools. I quickly learnt that I didn’t need to worry about what I knew already and that being part of NATRE was about being part of my learning journey (one that never ends).

Over the years that followed, I was given so many opportunities to speak about the subject that I love. I have spoken at the APPG for RE at the House of Commons, given keynotes at several national conferences, attended party conferences to talk to MPs about RE, become Chair of my local SACRE, written for several publications and given evidence at the Commission on RE. I have learnt so much from my NATRE colleagues and this has not only impacted on my thinking but also my practice in the classroom.

Of course, there have been knocks and bumps along the way but each experience has taught me something new, made me think and I hope, made me a better teacher. Although I left my first school over five years ago, I will never forget how much my headteacher invested in me and how she saw something in me that I didn’t see myself.

I am now working at a wonderful primary school in Devon. My school values RE to the highest level and has given me the opportunity to teach the subject that I love across the school. I am so grateful to work with so many inspirational leaders who challenge and encourage me to be the best that I can be. I hope that one day I will have the opportunity to do what they have done for me for someone else.

I still have many moments of nerves and imposter syndrome and I still have to pinch myself that I have been given so many opportunities to share my opinions about the subject that I love. In recently months, I have taken part in Culham St Gabriel’s Leadership Programme, this has really helped me to find my voices as a leader, further developed my confidence, skills and given me more understanding of how academic research impacts upon what we do in the classroom.

If my journey into leadership has taught me anything, it is that even if you don’t feel confident in yourself, listen to the people around you, often they see things in you that you don’t see in yourself. Take those challenges even if you feel that it should be someone else, you never know where your choices will take you.

Katie Freeman is RE, Church School Distinctiveness and Ethos Leader, Bickleigh Down CofE Primary School, Devon