From workshops on high-quality KS3, to running a successful RE department. GCSE RS to updates on National RE. Providing delegates with time to network and share good practice from their school.
Conference Programme
9.00–9.30am | Registration and refreshments
9.30–10.00am | Keynote address
Deborah Weston OBE
10.00–11.00am | Workshop 1
Text and Scholarship in RE
Joe Kinnaird
11.00–11.20am | Break
11.20am–12.20pm | Workshop 2
GCSE Religious Studies: A Comprehensive Toolkit
Zameer Hussain
12.25–1.25pm | Workshop 3
Powerful Questioning in the RE Classroom
Joe Kinnaird
1.25–2.15pm | Lunch
An opportunity to browse and purchase books from Newham Bookshop.
2.15–3.15pm | Workshop 4
Applying What We Have Learnt in Our Departments This Year
Claire Clinton and Lucy Still
3.15–3.45pm | Networking
3.45–4.00pm | Questions and evaluations
4.00pm | Conference closes
Speaker Biographies
Deborah Weston OBE
Deborah Weston is an experienced teacher and trainer who worked in a large inner-city comprehensive school as Director of Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development and as a Religious Education teacher.
She advises four local authorities on Religious Education, supporting Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education (SACREs), classroom practitioners, and middle and senior leaders.
Deborah is a member of the national executive of the National Association of Teachers of RE (NATRE), where she serves as Research Officer. She also chairs the RE Policy Unit for NATRE and the Religious Education Council (REC).
She has worked with the Department for Education and Ofqual on examination reform following the Curriculum and Assessment Review and was one of the two lead drafters of the National Curriculum on RE document. Deborah was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2016 for services to Religious Education and interfaith dialogue.
Joe Kinnaird
Joe Kinnaird is Head of Religious Education at a secondary school in east London. He has a decade of classroom teaching experience and works alongside specialist teachers on curriculum, pedagogy and assessment.
Joe is a member of the NATRE Executive and a regular speaker at local and national RE conferences. He also works with initial teacher training providers, leading sessions to support the development of RE trainees.
Zameer Hussain
Zameer Hussain is a Religious Studies consultant and an experienced secondary Religious Education teacher and Head of Department. He has served on the NATRE Executive Committee and worked as a course writer.
An experienced public speaker, Zameer has represented RE at national and international events. He regularly provides training for RE teachers, delivers guest lectures at universities and places of worship about religion, and contributes to media discussions about faith.