Archived decisions

APPENDIX 1 TO ITEM 8

South Hants RE GCSE Conference

21st July 2008

The aim of the conference, once again, was to demonstrate the links between belief and action in order to support students sitting both full and short course GCSEs. As with last year, those running workshops were examples of people whose actions, lifestyle choices and professions had been influenced by their beliefs.

Speakers

Dr Gavin Schaffer - Judaism (Prejudice)

Mark Stratton - Chichester Baptist Church (Medical Ethics)

Hamooyan Sultan - Islamic Relief (Ummah)

David Glendining - Buddhism (Sangha)

Carol Paul - Yoga Teacher

Gay Mallam - Explore/SEM (Christian organization supporting the concept of marriage and relationship counselling) (Commitment)

Nick Todd - Army Padre (Conflict)

Paul Hickman - Faith in Football (Salvation)

Paul Imonopi - Gospel Choir

Narinda Bains - Sikhism (Equality)

Annie Henry - Baha'i (Unity)

Schools

Cowplain Community School (43 students)

Miltoncross School (48 students)

Neville Lovell School (14 students)

Portchester Community School (26 students)

Purbrook Park School (15 students)

Petersfield School (19 students)

Warblington School (5 students)

Park Community School (15 students)

Schedule

08.45 Registration

09.15 Introduction

09.30 Session 1

10.15 Break

10.45 Session 2

11.35 Session 3

12.20 Lunch

13.00 Session 4

13.45 School Based Groups

14.15 Plenary

15.15 Close

    · Speakers were asked to deliver their workshops in accordance with the Conceptual Methodology used within schools and a suitable concept was discussed and agreed upon. In most cases, speakers were comfortable with being given a concept and advice as to how to deliver their workshop. Some speakers managed to use the methodology more successfully than others with the communicate, apply and enquire being used more than the contextualise and evaluate.

    · 185 students attended at a cost of £5.00 per student. This was used to pay South Downs College for the use of their facilities, refreshments for staff and speakers and expenses claimed by speakers. Photocopying costs were met by Cowplain and Miltoncross Schools.

    · Workshops ran for 45 minutes although the Gospel Choir used double sessions in order to fully prepare students for the performance given at the start of the Plenary. Students rotated between workshops which resulted in them attending four different sessions (or three if they were attending the Gospel Choir).

    · The rotations were organised so that each student had one `hands on' style workshop to attend and visited different faith representatives during the day to get the broadest possible experience. Where schools had requested specific friendship groups or particular workshops we tried to be as accommodating as possible.

    · Students from Cowplain who had attended the conference during previous years supported staff to escort groups and provide support to the speakers.

    · Photos were taken and will be available on Moodle.

    · Very positive feedback was received from both teachers and students with particular support for the Gospel Choir.

    · All school and speakers have said they would like to be involved with next year's conference with the exception of Narinda Bains who found it one of the more frightening experiences of her life!

    · Evaluation Feedback forms were completed on the day by schools and speakers.