Methodist church highlights importance of religious education in schools with RE resources

The Methodist Schools and Education Service has completed a twoyear project that has produced accessible and informative ReligiousEducation resources. The RE resources offer an insight intoChristianity and Methodism for Key Stage 1-4.  

The completion of the project follows the recent Ofsted reportReligious Education: Realising the Potential, published 06October, that criticised the levels of RE provision in schools,placing responsibility for improvement with thegovernment. 

John Keast OBE, Chair of RE Council of England and Wales, said:"Good religious education in all our schools is more important thanever these days. Religion and belief have such a high profile incurrent affairs, community and social matters, and personaldevelopment nowadays that everybody needs to know, understand andbe able to make sense of it."

The RE resources were commissioned by the Methodist Church toprovide some non-statutory exemplification of good teaching andlearning in RE. They were written by Lat Blaylock of RE Today and are intended toenable teaching of Christianity from a Methodist perspective. Theresources include an Introduction to Methodism by the Revd DrMartin Wellings and Sam Taylor, former Methodist Youth President,along with an outline of the 'Distinctiveness of Methodism andStructure of the Methodist Church'.

Lat Blaylock, Adviser for Religious Education Today, said: "Ithas been a great privilege to work with such high quality stafffrom Methodist Schools and the Education service to create newmaterials for RE in Methodist schools. These materials give anyteacher practically inspiring planning to use in their ownclassroom, enabling pupils to achieve more and learn about theirMethodist and Christian heritage." 

The RE resources offer guidance in teaching Christianity throughplanned units of work. The units include such topics as, 'Warmhearts: what does it feel like to experience God's presence?' Thisparticular unit is intended to make the life of John Wesleyrelevant to eight year old, Year four pupils. The resources havealready been successfully piloted at Methodist schools around thecountry.  

Lat Blaylock said: "There's a focus on pupils' open-hearted andbroad minded spiritual development too. OFsted criticise schoolsfor low standards, but the Methodist RE project has done somethingpractical to help. RE in these schools will enable pupils tounderstand Christianity for themselves, and respondfreely." 

Jude Levermore, Head of Discipleship and Ministries, said: "Weare proud of this top quality resource which will help teachers toengage with children in discussing things that really matter tothem and will make relevant the heritage of Methodism to youngpeople today." 

We have commissioned a reprint of the pack, ReligiousEducation - Guidance in teaching Christianity, and delivery isexpected at the end of November. If you would like to order a copy,please contact orders@norwichbooksandmusic.co.uk,telephone 0845 017 8220, quoting product code RE100-CT-13 . Eachpack will be priced at £25.00 plus VAT (£30.00) plus £5.00 p&pand no discounts are available.