Ways of Knowing Focus Week

18th – 24th May

In partnership with NATRE

RE:ONLINE and NATRE partnered to bring you a dedicated Focus Week exploring Ways of Knowing: Diving into Different Disciplines. Across seven days, we opened up what it means to think theologically, philosophically, and through the human and social sciences, helping teachers and pupils see not just what we learn in RE/RME/RVE, but how we know it

In Conversation event

On 19th May, we hosted a free online In Conversation exploring the power of story in RE.

We were delighted to welcome:

Catriona Card: Catriona is a Primary teacher and RE Subject Leader with over 30 years teaching experience, much of it in the Early Years Foundation Stage. She currently teaches Reception children in a large primary school in North Lincolnshire and is a part-time PhD student at Lincoln Bishop University, researching an age appropriate disciplinary approach to RE in Early Years education. Catriona is also a member of the NATRE Executive and of her local SACRE.

Joe Kinnaird: Joe is Head of RE at the Coopers Company and Coborn School in Upminster, East London. He has a decade of experience teaching RE in the classroom and working alongside specialist teachers on curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. Beyond the classroom, he currently serves as a member of the NATRE Executive. A regular speaker at local and national RE conferences, Joe also works with ITT providers, leading training sessions to support the development of RE trainees. He has recently published his first book ‘Secondary RE in Action’.

Stephen Pett: Stephen is a national adviser at RE Today Services. He is a trainer, writer and editor who led the development of major resource projects ‘Understanding Christianity’, ‘Understanding Muslims, Understanding Islam’ and ‘Challenging Knowledge in RE’ – creating a multidisciplinary approach and resources. He led the RE Council’s religion and worldviews (RW) project and wrote the 2024 ‘Handbook for Curriculum Writers’ on an RW approach.

Blog posts

Could you, would you, should you use multiple disciplines to study sacred texts with Year 5 and 6? Sarah Dennis, NATRE Exec and RE leader

Empowering students as sacred text scholars: three ways to support pupils’ reason as theologians, Ryan Parker, RE and Christian Ethos Adviser

Thinking like a theologian: Practical tools for reading sacred texts in the secondary RE classroom, Joanne Harris, Vice Chair of NATRE, RE teacher

Thinking like a social scientist in the RE classroom, Charlotte Newman, Trust Lead for Religious Studies, NATRE steering group

Looking at data, learning to see: A ‘ways of knowing’ lesson in primary RE, Chris Mooney, Deputy Headteacher and RE Subject Leader

Why do you think that? Using philosophy to deepen learning in primary RE, John Semmens, Primary RE Lead and Norfolk SACRE Chair

From “What do they believe?” to “Does it make sense?”: Using philosophical tools in secondary RE, Greg Parekh is a Head of RE, T&L lead and NATRE Exec

How we use ‘ways of knowing’ in our new Trust RE curriculum, Natalie Parkin, Strategic Lead for Religious Studies and Personal Development at a Multi-Academy Trust

Why RE matters in alternative provision: Ways of knowing that make space for meaning, Lucy Holloway, Director of Education at Wave MAT

Book reviews

Ways of Knowing: A Toolkit, Secondary, Stephen Pett, Knut Aukland, Trevor Cooling, Chris Cotter, Julia Diamond Conway, Jane Gatley, Is’Haaq Jasat, Richard Kueh, Jon Lanman, Carissa Sharp, Rachel Shilltoe, Simeon Zahl. Reviewed by Lyndsey Leech, Head of Religious Studies, Vice Chair of Oldham SACRE

Ways of Knowing: A Toolkit, Primary, Julie Childs, Julia Diamond-Conway, Stephen Pett and Debbie Yeomans. Reviewed by Khadija Mahir, Primary RE Subject Leader

Secondary Religious Education in Action, Joe Kinnaird. Reviewed by Dee Cowan, secondary school Religious Education teacher and ECT1

Resource spotlight: Inclusive Judaism

The Inclusive Judaism project began in collaboration with Culham St Gabriel’s back in 2020. The goal? To ensure educators teach Judaism in an authentic, diverse, and inclusive way.

Find out more about our Resource Spotlight here.

Research spotlight: Collated scholarship

This research spotlight brings together a carefully selected range of scholarship to support teachers engaging with disciplines and “ways of knowing” in Religion and Worldviews education.

Find more about our Research Spotlight here.