Free CPD for Primary Teachers: Freedom of Religion or Belief, Beginning Teachers and NATRE New2RE Support

Finding time for professional development is difficult but an important part of developing as a teacher. These examples of free courses and opportunities below offer opportunities to develop at different points in your career.

Freedom of Religion or Belief e-learning from Culham St Gabriel’s

Culham St Gabriel’s Trust is committed to the principle that RE/RVE/RME in schools can be a tool for the promotion and protection of human rights in general and Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in particular. This course provides an introduction to the concept of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and how you might teach about this concept in lessons for primary age pupils. You will consider what is meant by FoRB, some principles and recommendations for teaching FoRB in RE/RVE/RME and what this might look like in the classroom using the research of primary teachers. You will also look at some possible learning outcomes for pupils. Using a ‘FoRB Lens’ is not about adding lots of new content but instead taking opportunities to look at some of the content in RE/RVE/RME through a different lens.

This free course will take approximately 1 Hour.

Beginner Teachers e-learning from Culham St Gabriel’s

These are three short courses designed for Primary ITE students and ECTs. The courses are aimed at ITE however mentors, more experienced teachers and RE subject leads will find much here that is useful. Anyone is welcome to take these courses. The courses provide initial, essential information about the subject and signpost future avenues of support and research. The three courses are; Introduction to Religion and worldviews (90 minutes), Teaching and learning for Primary beginner teachers (60-90 minutes) and Subject knowledge for primary beginner teachers (60-90 minutes).

Monthly New2RE webinars from NATRE

If you are an Early Career Teacher (ECT) or perhaps you are an experienced teacher new to teaching or leading RE/RVE/RME you will want to join the National Association of Teachers of RE (NATRE) free monthly webinars. These free webinars are explicitly designed to support you in developing your teaching abilities and subject knowledge. The sessions are a mix of taught sessions and Café NATRE (a panel of volunteers answering attendees’ questions). Sessions this year have included; disciplinary knowledge, Creativity and sessions on a range of religious and non-religious worldviews. Still to come this year a session on Sikhi and a session on Christianity. These sessions are also open to secondary teachers but Primary teachers are very welcome.

With certain NATRE memberships you can also watch the recordings of these sessions or use them in training in school.

#REChatUK

#REChatUK is a dynamic monthly chat currently hosted on the X platform and run by members of the NATRE executive as well as occasional special guests. It is designed to provide a supportive community for teachers of RE/RVE/RME and to help them share innovative ideas and exchange valuable resources. Each #REChatUK session takes place on the first Monday of the month (it moves for holidays and bank holidays) from 8-9pm. For instructions on how to get the most out of #REChatUK read this How I…guide.