Independent Schools Religious Studies Association

Contents

John Keast’s address to ISRSA on Assessment in RE 
 

Eamon Duffy on the future of Theology and Religious Studies 
 

Common mistakes in the teaching of Hinduism 
 

Advice to new RE teachers 
 

Thoughts on RE by a Headmaster 
 

Philosophy of Religion and Christian ethics 
 

Letters  
 

Articles from earlier issues  

Science, Religion and Human Nature 

Guide to Websites 

Narrative Criticism in the Classroom

Membership  
 

How ISRSA began  
 

ISRE Syllabus 
 

The aims of ISRSA 
 
 

Start page  

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The pupils in Bablake come from families of many different faiths and values which are not only believed in but are also lived out in everyday life.  Some pupils are from Christian families, others from Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim or Sikh families, and there are a substantial number from none of these.  What ever their background pupils do not leave their family values, faith and experiences behind at the school gate. 

Values and Beliefs 
One aspect of teaching R.E. in the school curriculum is to help pupils learn more about their own and other’s values and beliefs and to help them to respect and appreciate the differences and similarities. 

Therefore, R.E. should seek to bring young people to a broad understanding of religion and contribute to the development of their own values and beliefs.  It should offer an understanding of important ways in which men and women explore, differentiate, structure and interpret their experience.  In addition it should help pupils to analyse and evaluate the evidence for the claims made by those with religious faith and the counter-claims made by those outside the faith. 

Mind and Spirit 
I also expect R.E. to have a firm educational role in the school.  The subject must be seen as an area of knowledge and understanding in its own educational right.   In line with other subjects, it should provide pupils with the opportunities to learn about the world and the people in it.  R.E should enable pupils to develop their capacities – of the mind, of the spirit, of the senses – as fully as possible.  The subject should explore the distinctive way in which men and women express their experience of life.  It must involve a wide range of skills and attitudes, emotions and expressions. 

A Significant Place in the Curriculum 
Religious values and beliefs will frequently arise within other subjects and these will influence the way pupils behave towards other people and consequently will have an effect on the sense of community both within and outside the school. Nevertheless, the way R.E. is taught within the school and the effect it has on attitudes towards other peoples’ faith should be significant elements in the life and ethos of the school. 

Dr. S. Nuttall is Headmaster of Bablake School, Coventry