Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Report for Information

1) Purpose of Report: Annual RE Conference for GCSE students

1.1. This report provides SACRE with a summary of the activities in which a number of GCSE religious studies students from Secondary schools in Hampshire and Portsmouth took part.

2) Contextual Issues:

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2.1. This paper supports the Corporate Strategies (maximising well being and Hampshire safer and more secure for all) by contributing to the religious education and interfaith dialogue with young people in secondary schools.. The SE Hampshire and Portsmouth GCSE conference addresses SACRE's responsibilities in relation to inclusion and diversity. This report supports the Corporate Strategy (maximising well being) by ensuring children's provision in religious education is secure.

3) The Conference

3.1 This is an event which includes Hampshire secondary school students in the South East of the county. It was held at Southdowns College. Jo Maule, who contributed to the organisation of the day, has provided a summary of the event . (Appendix 1)

4) Conclusions: SACRE endorses the continued provision of this annual conference for Hampshire secondary schools.

South Hants RE GCSE Conference. 15th July 2009

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.

In order to make the conference appeal to a wider audience we are intending next year to use a broader base of speakers who will support schools that are delivering their RE within other subjects ie Citizenship and PSHE. We intend to make it more `values' based and hope that in this way we can bring in other schools. We feel this is the only way to move forward and ensure we can provide quality workshops which schools can justify attending. It is a vicious circle as many organizations/speakers now require payment and without the assurance of delegates attending we are unable to fund the conference.

Speakers

Mark Stratton & CAP (Christians Against Poverty - (Poverty)

Hamooyan Sultan - Islamic Relief (Ummah)

Ajahn - Chithurst Monastery (Sangha)

Carol Paul - Yoga Teacher (Worship)

British Army - (Conflict)

Paul Hickman - Faith in Football (Salvation)

Paul Imonopi - Gospel Choir (Worship)

ISKON - (Equality)

Schools

Cowplain Community School (38 students)

Portchester Community School (26 students)

Horndean (12 students)

Park Community School (12 students)

Bohunt School (27 students)

Schedule

08.45 Registration

09.15 Introduction

09.30 Session 1

09.55 Session 2

10.35 Break

10.50 Session 3

11.30 Session 4

12.10 Lunch

12.45 Session 5

13.25 Session 6

14.05 School based groups

14.30 Plenary

15.00 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.

· 115 students attended at a cost of £5.50 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 School. There was a shortfall of £104 which Children's Services agreed to cover as this would otherwise have to be taken out of Cowplain's department budget.

· We had a very poor response from schools this year with only four schools wanting to take part alongside Cowplain. This was due to staff not having the backing from their schools to take students out of school (in many schools this is being limited to specific `off timetable' days). Some schools simply felt that this was no longer of value to them due to the changes in the way their deliver their religious content ie within PSHE or Citizenship. Some schools said it clashed with other events due to it being the end of term.

· Milton Cross declined to take part this year having been the main `supplier' of students in the past. We were told by schools in the Portsmouth area that they have set up an `alternative' conference and although we have not had confirmation of this it could account for the lack of interest from schools in that area.

· Workshops ran for 40 minutes although the Gospel Choir and Iskon used double sessions in order to fully prepare students for the performance given at the end 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.

· 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 and the British Army.

· All school and speakers have said they would like to be involved with next year's conference with the exception of Ajahn. He has questioned our inclusion of the British Army and has asked that we justify our decision to include them. A response has been sent outlining the links with the concepts of conflict, conscience, peace and authority amongst others and explaining that the students were able to explore how a Christian and a Sikh justify their roles as soldiers.

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