The prestigious “A Feast of Faith” conference held at Broadway Academy brought together educators, religious leaders, and academics to explore what exceptional Religious Education (RE) might look like for 21st-century students. This landmark event aimed to provide fresh insights into the role of faith in modern education and equip educators with the tools to deliver outstanding RE lessons.
Setting the Scene
The day began with a warm welcome from Broadway Academy, whose choir set an uplifting tone with a beautiful performance. The conference attracted a diverse audience, including RE teachers, department heads, and faith leaders, all eager to explore innovative ways to engage students in religious and philosophical discussions.
Keynote Speakers
The morning session featured two highly anticipated keynote addresses:
Sir Anthony Seldon: The Fourth Education Revolution
Renowned educator and historian Sir Anthony Seldon opened with a thought-provoking talk on “The Fourth Education Revolution: AI and the Future of Learning.” He explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping education and how RE can remain relevant in this rapidly evolving landscape. Sir Anthony highlighted the importance of preparing students to navigate moral and ethical questions in a digital age.
Msgr Dr Michael Nazir-Ali: Faith and the Future of Education
Following a short refreshment break, Msgr Dr Michael Nazir-Ali took to the stage to discuss “Faith and the Future of Education.” His talk emphasized the enduring value of religious literacy in fostering understanding and empathy in an increasingly diverse world. He challenged educators to think about how faith can shape moral and civic education for the future.
Video Discussion: Dr Richard Kueh and Cristo Rodriguez
Before lunch, attendees engaged in a video discussion featuring Dr Richard Kueh and Cristo Rodriguez. The session provided valuable insights into the evolving landscape of RE and the need to adapt teaching approaches to meet contemporary challenges.
Underlying Theme: Preserving the Freedoms in Religious Education
A central theme throughout the conference was how to preserve the freedoms currently enjoyed in schools to teach Religious Education as Philosophy, Ethics, and Religion, without being forced to accept a worldviews ideology. Speakers highlighted the importance of ensuring that RE remains focused on academic achievement and a knowledge based curriculum, exploring religious and philosophical traditions, rather than being diluted by a worldviews framework.
Workshops: Practical Insights for Educators
The afternoon sessions featured a series of interactive workshops, providing attendees with practical strategies to enhance their RE teaching. Each workshop was tailored to address different aspects of RE education:
Session 1 Workshops:
1. Teaching Hinduism – Seeta Lakhani shared effective methods for teaching Hindu beliefs and practices in the classroom.
2. Understanding Islam in the Classroom – Zahida Hussain provided insights on fostering respectful and informed discussions about Islam.
3. Leading an Effective RE Department – Prabhdeep Mann offered practical tips for RE leaders to build successful departments.
4. What is a Worldview? – Julie Arliss explored how understanding worldviews can enrich RE lessons and broaden students’ perspectives.
In her session, Julie Arliss provided a comprehensive critique of the worldviews agenda, questioning its philosophical and ideological underpinnings and its impact on the integrity of Religious Education. She argued that while it is important to understand different perspectives, RE should remain knowledge-based with a focus on religious and philosophical traditions.
Session 2 Workshops:
1. Theology, Philosophy, Religion: A Draft Framework – Richard Coupe presented a draft framework to support RE educators in integrating these disciplines.
2. The Disciplines of RE Learning – Cristo Rodriguez delved into the core disciplines that underpin effective RE teaching.
3. Writing an Outstanding Agreed Syllabus – Dr Marius Felderhof and Guy Hordern provided guidance on creating comprehensive and engaging RE syllabuses.
4. Teaching a Catholic Education – Andrew Capone discussed the unique aspects of teaching within a Catholic educational framework.
5. Teaching Islam – Waqar Ahmedi shared best practices for presenting Islamic teachings in an educational context.
Closing Plenary and Drama Sketch
The conference concluded with a plenary feedback session, where attendees shared their key takeaways and reflections from the day. To end on an inspiring note, Broadway Academy students performed a drama sketch titled “Living Out the Faith,” showcasing how faith can be expressed through everyday actions and decisions.
Reflections from Attendees
Attendees praised the conference for its rich content and practical takeaways:
“The Feast of Faith conference was incredibly insightful. It provided me with new approaches to bring faith discussions into the classroom in a way that resonates with today’s students,” said one participant.
“Hearing from such esteemed speakers was a privilege. The workshops were particularly helpful, offering real strategies that I can implement immediately,” remarked another attendee.
A Bright Future for Religious EducationThe Feast of Faith conference demonstrated that knowledge-based learning is the foundation of exceptional Religious Education. Without deep religious literacy, fostering true understanding and empathy becomes impossible. The conference emphasized that in a world facing complex moral and ethical challenges, the need for religious literacy has never been more important. Broadway Academy has set a high bar for future events, leaving attendees inspired and ready to take RE to new heights in their own schools.