What’s New? An A Level Digest

March 2024

Written by Rachael Jackson-Royal our Post -16 digest is full of interesting, useful and relevant books, articles, videos and podcasts. Whether to develop and improve your own development and understanding, or to bring to the classroom, you will find fresh ideas for A Level.

Rachael Jackson-Royal is head of department of RE and is the exams and higher education officer on the NATRE executive.

This month, as well as the usual digest we bring you details of an opportunity from Patrick Moriarty, Sarum Visiting Scholar to help design the style, scope and content of a new programme of professional learning for teachers of the Christianity component of RS A level. Read on to find out more.

A good book: How the world thinks by Julian Baggini

I read this book a while ago as part of a reading group (I didn’t finish it in time for the meeting but I did complete it later). However, I recently revisited it because a pupil asked me about it. I had forgotten how good it is especially if you want to read beyond western thought and philosophy. I would really recommend it as a way to start broadening your knowledge and understanding but also I think it is useful for the A level as it helps you situate and see the links with some of the topics you are teaching. I have also leant it to some of my students to help them prepare for university. Thus, it is a good all round read that is accessible for A level pupils and teachers.

A good watch: The problem of consciousness

I am currently teaching the mind body unit for the Philosophy of Religion paper in the OCR A level. I wanted a really good clip on consciousness as we were discussing and exploring this in the lesson. My go to place is often the Wireless philosophy site and once again, it did not disappoint. This clip is a really clear and thorough explanation of the topic area and I would highly recommend it to you. After I watched and shared this clip with the students, we had some really interesting and useful conversations about the topics that had been discussed. You could use it as an introduction but it is probably better shown after you have done some work in this area. The link to the site is: The Hard Problem of Consciousness – Wi-Phi

A good piece of research: Authoritative female UK Muslims

Although I do not teach Islam at A level I do teach this at GCSE and I also aware that many of you teach this world view at this higher level. Consequently, I am always on the lookout for research which shows greater diversity in this faith and I was really pleased to find this piece. It discusses female Islamic guidance and authority in the UK demonstrating the kinds of things that are changing in this area. In particular, it shows how these women are acting as guides in many different issues (including marriage and relationships) for Muslims in Britain today. As I read this, I could see how this would be relevant for those teaching sexual ethics at A level but also issues connected with relationships and families at GCSE. I really liked the way it challenges stereotypes and how you may want to rethink using words such as traditional and other terms when discussing this faith. The link to the summary of the article is (where you can also find the link to the article in full): Authoritative female UK Muslims – RE:ONLINE (reonline.org.uk)

A good listen: Beyond Belief, BBC Radio 4

This was a truly fascinating listen when it aired a couple of months ago. I think it touches on so many issues that we look at in our subject. Thus it is not just about the ethics surrounding animals, kosher/halal etc but also the morality of genetic engineering and how responses to modern dilemmas might be resolved by various faiths and the different groups within these. I would recommend listening to all of this episode, both the panel discussions and the breakout clips (for want of a better phrase). In addition, having already visited Bhakti Vedanta Manor to look at the work they do with their cows there, I now want to visit Willow brook farm perhaps with my GCSE students! I have recommended this to students at GCSE and A level. We have even used it as part of a discussion in an extension class where we explore issues connected to Philosophy and Religion in more detail. The link to the episode is: BBC Radio 4 – Beyond Belief, Stem Cell Steaks and the Scriptures

Nourishing teachers and teaching for RS A level – an opportunity

A frequently-heard plea from RS teachers is for more detailed and deep professional learning for those delivering A level. Training opportunities are readily available to support teaching for younger students, or to develop skills in pedagogy or subject leadership, but A level needs something more: the concepts are complex, the questions deeper and the scope of study often goes beyond what even the most experienced can confidently deliver.

We are hoping to fill this gap and need the input of serving teachers to help us shape the programme. Based at Sarum College and drawing on its resources in Theology, Religious Literacy and the interaction of faith and society, we want to offer teachers academic depth, broad contextual understanding and professional nourishment to sustain their work. Initially the focus is on schools teaching the Christianity units, although the program will include philosophical and ethical elements too. Can you help us design the style, scope and content of this exciting programme?

We seek to convene a group of interested professionals, meeting online during the summer term, to help tailor the offer to what teachers need and to what they can access amongst the competing pressures on their lives. Members of this group may go on to become members of our pilot cohort, but there is no obligation to do so. If you have further questions or wish to be involved, please contact Patrick Moriarty, Sarum Visiting Scholar, at pm.projects@icloud.com. We look forward to hearing from you.