Articles by Ben Wood

Events and resources

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Events: What’s going on in the RE community

In March, Ben Wood passed the leadership of NATRE to Katie Freeman. We asked them both to look backwards and forwards from their position as Chair of our subject teacher association.

Published in: Volume 38, Number 3

On reflection

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On reflection: on being Chair of NATRE

It is great to welcome back Ben Wood to these pages. Ben has written here before, including a reflection on taking up the role of Chair of NATRE in the Summer 2019 edition. This time he looks back and reflects upon...

Published in: Volume 38, Number 3

Events and resources

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Events What’s going on in the RE community

At the beginning of 2021, we can look back thinking that
2020 didn’t quite turn out how we thought it might.

Published in: Volume 38, Number 2

Events and resources

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Taking the problems seriously

I never enjoyed teaching the ‘environment’ bit of the GCSE course. It was just so bland, so uncontroversial, so anodyne. It was one of the most glaring examples of how the previous GCSE was so undemanding, and the...

Published in: Volume 38, Number 1
Tagged: RE, Christianity, GCSE, environment, Black Lives Matter

Events and resources

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Strictly RE, Ofsted’s 3Is and religious literacy

I am writing this just a few weeks after the sixth StrictlyRE – certainly the biggest yet, with around 350 people joining us at Heathrow for a superb conference. The feedback has been very positive and this reflects...

Published in: Volume 37, Number 3

Theory and practice

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What have we learned from the first time through the new GCSE and A level?

The former Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, initiated the reform of GCSEs and A levels in February 2013 with the rationale of making the qualifications more ambitious and better preparing young people for...

Published in: Volume 37, Number 3
Tagged: RE GCSE, A-level RS

Events and resources

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Events: What’s going on in the RE community

I am in my eighteenth year of teaching. I’m just starting to get the hang of some of it. One area in which I am more confident is my understanding of what RE is in my school.

Published in: Volume 37, Number 2

Policy pages

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New NATRE Chair Ben Wood looks back at six years on the NATRE Exec as he embarks in this new role.

Working as part of the NATRE Executive over the last six years has allowed me to see first hand the terrific work that goes on for the benefit of RE. I have met some outstanding people; people with wisdom, experience,...

Published in: Volume 36, Number 1

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NATRE Chair Ben Wood looks at the final report published by the Commission on RE (REC)

As you may be aware, in September the Commission on RE (REC) published its fial report, putting forward a national plan to reinvigorate the subject for the benefit of all students in all publicly funded schools. In...

Published in: Volume 36, Number 2

Events and resources

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Events: Despite everything, hope

Ben Wood, NATRE Chair, talking about the government’s weak response to the Commission on RE’s report.

Published in: Volume 36, Number 3

On reflection

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On taking up the role of NATRE Chair

For this edition we have Ben Wood to thank for these honest and humble reflections on his role as a successful head of RE and as Chair of NATRE. Many of you will have heard or seen Ben representing our subject when...

Published in: Volume 36, Number 3

Reviews

book covers beyond happiness and religious literacy

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Reviews

Janet Dyson, Reviews Editor As so often happens, I found both of these reviews made me want to know more about the books and their authors. Bill Gent’s wide-ranging reading frequently introduces us to books we might...

Published in: Volume 33, Number 2
Tagged: Religions of the World, teaching

Events and resources

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Defending religion?

‘Religions cause wars, don’t they, sir?’ is a familiar refrain in an RE classroom. It is a seductive idea. Students study the Crusades and can take away the idea that this was a Christianity vs. Islam conflict....

Published in: Volume 34, Number 3
Tagged: defending religion

Events and resources

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Bliks and worldviews

The concept of a worldview is one that forms a crucial part of the recommendations in the Commission on RE’s report. It is also a term that can be controversial and one that isn’t easy to define (not bad things in...

Published in: Volume , Number