REN Conference 2024: A Feast of Faith
REN Conference 2024: A Feast of Faith
Put this date in your diaries: Saturday 23rd November 2024
The REN is delighted to announce its first annual conference, with high-profile speakers, interactive workshops, displays and networking and sharing opportunities.
Instead of choosing an Oxford college, a university campus or a hotel suite, we have chosen a successful, thriving school in the heart of one of Britain’s most deprived wards, so delegates will where the action is. The venue is the Broadway Academy, The Broadway, Perry Barr,
Birmingham, B20 3DP. Broadway is rated ‘good’ in all categories by Ofsted.
Keynote Speakers
Sir Anthony Seldon FRSA, FRHistS, FKC is author or editor of more than 45 books on contemporary history, politics and education, including seven political biographies. His 2018 work, The Fourth Education Revolution, provides a basis for his conference address to the REN on Artificial Intelligence. He has been headmaster of three independent schools, launched a new state academy, served has been vice-chancellor of Buckingham University, was the co-founder and first director of the Centre for Contemporary British History, is the co-founder of Action for Happiness, is a governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and is on the board of a number of charities and educational bodies.
Monsignor Dr Michael Nazir Ali, raised in Pakistan, has held numerous senior responsibilities in church life, twice as a bishop in the Church of England, and as such an active member of the House of Lords. He has taught and lectured at several universities, held visiting professorships both in Britain and abroad, and holds academic fellowships at Oxford, Cambridge and elsewhere. He is the author of thirteen books and of numerous articles on Mission, Ecumenism, the Anglican Communion, and relations with people of other faiths (particularly Islam). He is now a Priest of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walshingham and Prelate of Honour to His Holiness Pope Francis, and is President of the Oxford Centre for Training, Research, Advocacy and Dialogue (OXTRAD).
Dr Richard Kueh was Deputy Director, Schools and Early Education in Ofsted until July 2024. He was previously deputy director, research & evaluation, senior HMI for curriculum, and HMI national lead for teacher training and religious education. He has senior experience as director of a regional school improvement partnership, director of teacher training and development for a multi-academy trust, deputy headteacher of a secondary school and associate headteacher of a primary school. Richard’s areas of expertise include curriculum, teacher development, inclusion and initial teacher education. He now is one of the leadership team of the Cam Academy Trust.
Workshop Leaders
Zahida Hussain is a former Headteacher, now a Governor of Broadway Academy and member of Birmingham SACRE. She has served in the teaching profession since 1982 and as a Muslim Chaplain at Aston University since January 2018. She has been a member of the Birmingham SACRE since 2005, served on the Agreed Syllabus (RE) Conference 2005-2007 and 2017 – 2019 and co-edited RE resources available on the SACRE website to all Birmingham Schools.
Savvas Costi is an experienced teacher with a passion to educate and help young people strive for excellence and prepare for the real world. An advocate for Critical Realism in Religious Education using a classical liberal model, he believes it’s essential for progress and offers the best approach for teaching in a plural world. Leading our work on a TPR curriculum, he aims to build a robust curriculum that takes religious literacy seriously.
Julie Arliss is a highly accomplished teacher and author. She is a well-known international educator working closely with teachers to bring the best resources to schools. She heads Academy Learning, which comprises Thriving Minds, EthIQa, Academy Leadership and Philosothon UK, alongside chairing the ISRSA. She was on the examining team for Cambridge International Examinations and assisted the CPD team for one of the leading UK examination boards.
Cristo Rodriguez has a worked in schools abroad with the British Council, and in the UK in Alternative Provision, Youth Work; he is Managing Director of a Christian Education Charity and recently a Chaplain. He is a subject leader in RE and is also working with the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics to develop its schools’ work. He has been awarded a Farmington Scholarship 2024/25 . Cristo is a trustee of the Association of Christian Teachers (ACT) and a member of the Christian Coalition for Education.
Dr Simone Whitehouse has been a Head of Department leading RE in schools in Birmingham and is now an Education Advisor at Services For Education; she has been a visiting lecturer on the Birmingham University RE PGDip course. She has extensive knowledge of ITT and the Early Career Framework and is an Induction Manager and facilitator for the Best Practice Network. She has been drafting secretary for the ASC, advising on curriculum, delivering CPD in NPQ qualifications.
Guy Hordern MBE has been a member of Birmingham SACRE since 1977 and Chairman was Chairman of the 2007 and 2022 Birmingham Agreed Syllabus Conferences. He was appointed MBE in 2010 for services to Community Relations in Birmingham. Guy is a member of the General Synod of the Church of England.
Seeta Lakhani is an author and educator who continues her father Jay Lakhani’s work through the Hindu Academy, providing all sorts of resources for promoting education in Hinduism. She is a regular broadcaster on programmes such as Thought for the Day and is author of ‘Hinduism for Schools’, ‘Special Times; Hinduism’ among other books for schools. She is Director of Peepal Care and serves as Hindu Tutor at Eton College.
Waqar Ahmedi has been Head of RE Departments for most of his career. He is the author of several textbooks and revision guides for GCSE and A-level RS, and has run CPD and student events across the country. Every year Waqar travels to Pakistan to train secondary teachers in Rabwah, He has produced resources on Islam for Kerboodle and written podcast scripts for Audiopi. Additionally, he has served on the Birmingham SACRE and ASC representing the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association.
Prabhdeep Mann is Head of Humanities and RE at Broadway Academy and has taught RE for over 20 years. She holds an MA in Theology and has taught RE at four other schools. At Broadway students study the Birmingham Agreed Syllabus in KS3 RE and all students (210) per year are entered for full course GCSE RE, with exceptional results. Prab b leads Theology, Philosophy and Ethics in the Sixth Form and all students in the Broadway sixth form also take part in a Theology for Life module, promoting their spiritual moral and academic development, and their religious literacy. Critical thinking is enabled through the use of scripture, extra-curricular and ‘faith’ to create an inclusive learning environment. See https://www.broadway-academy.co.uk/new-curriculum-page/religious-education/ .
Andrew Capone has been an examiner for OCR and Edexcel and leads a very successful department at a Catholic school where he is Subject Leader for RE and Coordinator of PDW (PSHE, RSE, SMSC, Citizenship) at his school whilst serving on the Council of the ISRSA and being author of several popular teaching packs and revision guides for A level. He is an engaging speaker and provides INSET opportunities for teachers in Philosophy and Religion.
The Religious Education Network Conference 2024
Saturday 23rd November 2024
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: SATURDAY 9th NOVEMBER
The dynamic and exciting inaugural conference is a must for thinking educators!
