13th December 2022
Celebrating Advent…
Matthew Parker, Head of School for Wolvey CofE Primary writes:
“On Monday 28 November all our community joined us at our village church for our annual Christingle Service. We had over 200 parents/carers and children join us, we even had our local cubs and brownies as a special treat this year!”
‘Wherever you are on life’s journey – you’re welcome’
Watch the Heart-Warming Church of England Christmas film
This year’s Church of England Christmas film follows one person through life’s journey – with a powerful invitation to everyone to come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The (3 min) moving film follows the story of a woman who is supported by her local church through many Christmases over the course of her life – from first appearing in a nativity play as a child to growing up, marrying, seeing her own children grow up, facing bereavement and beyond. It ends in a simple message: “Wherever you are on life’s journey, you’re invited to church this Christmas.” The film is part of the Church of England’s Christmas campaign: “Follow the Star – the Great Invitation”. The campaign is geared towards people who might not normally – or ever – attend church. Click here to watch.
CPD Coming Up in January…
Christian Distinctiveness Deep Dive Short – Looking at CPD
Monday 09 January – 16.30 to 17.30 – online via Zoom
What does flourishing look like when we think about CPD? Ensuring staff at all levels understand the contribution they make to the school’s distinctive Christian vision and that all staff have opportunity to flourish and develop as practitioners within their distinct roles in school. Free for DSA Subscribers – book here
SIAMS IQ1 A Theologically-Rooted Christian Vision
Wednesday 11 January – 16.00 to 17.00 – online via Zoom
In light of the announcement of changes to the SIAMS Inspection Framework and the inspection process from September 2023, these Zoom sessions which will look at each of the new inspection questions in term and how you can prepare for an inspection from September 2023 onwards. Free for DSA Subscribers – book here
Early Career Teachers – RE Subject Knowledge Intent in the RE Curriculum
Thursday 12 January – 16.00 to 18.30 – online
What is the intent of RE in the curriculum in your school? What are effective teaching and learning strategies to implement RE in the primary classroom? Run by Leicester Diocese and led by Fiona Moss. This programme is essential for all new teachers, whether starting a teaching career in a CofE school or community school. The recent OFSTED RE research report and the ECT framework are clear on the essential nature of subject knowledge CPD. RE is often a subject that teachers feel less confident teaching and these sessions will improve both RE subject knowledge and confidence. There is also the opportunity to complete gap tasks for a short self-study course through Teach RE. Cost: £40 for DSA subscribers (which includes a second session on 19 April on ‘Religion and Worldviews’) Book a place here
Headteachers Termly Briefing
Weds 18 January – 14.00 to 15.30 – online via Zoom
These termly sessions are to inform Headteachers of key updates from across the educational landscape and include updates from Ofsted, SIAMS, DfE, the Church of England, LAs and research bodies. In addition, there will be information on new resources, funding opportunities, charitable projects and the work of the Headteacher Reference and Advisory Group. Free for DSA Subscribers – book here
SIAMS IQ2 A Curriculum Rooted in Vision and Enhancing Spiritual Development
Wednesday 25 January – 16.00 to 17.00 – online via Zoom
In light of the announcement of changes to the SIAMS Inspection Framework and the inspection process from September 2023, these Zoom sessions which will look at each of the new inspection questions in term and how you can prepare for an inspection from September 2023 onwards. Free for DSA Subscribers – book here
CD Deep Dive Short – Wellbeing/Pastoral Care
Monday 30 January – 16.30 to 17.30 online via Zoom
What happens when it all gets a bit much? Ensuring a distinctive Christian ethos supports all in the school community in the ows and wows of life. Free for DSA Subscribers – book here
RE:Search Group
Tuesday 31 January – 16.30 to 17.30 online via Zoom
This group looks at how educational research can positively impact RE teaching in our schools. Joining this group will involve committing to read one research article/paper per half term and to join a half termly Zoom meeting to discuss the research’s merit and implications for teaching. Research will be focused on RE teaching or may be more broadly educational but applicable to RE teaching. In January’s session, John Semmens will be joining the group to explore Philosophy in KS2. Do still attend if you are secondary as we will be looking at how to lay philosophical foundations that can be built upon in KS3 as part of the discussion. To join book here.
RExChange 2022 Conference Recordings Available to View
Culham St Gabriel’s RExChange conference this October brought together teachers, researchers, advisers and other stakeholders to continue to develop a collaborative understanding of connections between the Religion and Worldviews classroom and the wider research world. Many of the session recordings are now freely available, including the after-dinner speaker Tom Fletcher CMG, the keynote speakers Tamanda Walker, Adam Dinham and Gillian Georgiou, plus a wide range of panel discussions and presentations (including the DBE’s Jen Jenkins!). Find them on the Culham St Gabriel’s website here.
For Teachers of RE – Farmington Scholarships 2023/24 are now open!
These are scholarships available to teachers of RE and associated subjects in UK primary, secondary, and special needs schools. Headteachers who wish to undertake research into either RE or values education can apply. For more information go to: http://www.farmington.ac.uk/index.php/farmington-scholarships/
LifeSavers – Free Primary Financial Education Resources
The Just Finance Foundation is a national charity working with schools, families, and changemakers to build financially resilient communities where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. Their education resource ‘Lifesavers’ engages primary pupils with values-based money lessons that are important and develop key life skills. Through the LifeSavers Programme you can access FREE flexible lesson plans, beautiful storybooks, assembly resources and much more! All of their programmes, training and resources are at no cost to your school. Find out more and get involved and see sample resources here: https://www.justfinancefoundation.org.uk/schools-hub
FREE Christmas Kindness Resources for Primary
With the end of term coming next week, 52 Lives – School of Kindness have put together a jam-packed ‘Kind Christmas’ Activity Book. With these resources, you can get kind and crafty! It includes colouring, kindness paper chains, decoration making, a word search, crossword and even a code breaker. A great range of resources with something for Year R, KS1 and KS2 and its FREE! Download your pack here.
Winter Wellbeing Toolkit from Mentally Healthy Schools
The festive season is often associated with feelings of excitement and happiness, but for some it may not always be a positive time. The shorter days, colder temperatures and the pressures associated with this time of year can impact many people, adults and children alike. The Mentally Healthy Schools team at the Anna Freud Centre are sharing primary and secondary resources to help boost winter wellbeing – classroom activities to run with your pupils and tools to help them manage their emotions, as well further sources of support for staff. Find the toolkits here: https://mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources/winter-wellbeing-toolkit/
Wellbeing Resources for Teaching Assistants from Education Support
UK Charity Education Support have put together a set of free new resources exclusively for Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Learning Support Assistants (LSAs). They cover topics including burnout, stress and financial worries and are designed to keep colleagues healthy and informed. Please share this link with your TA or LSA colleagues.
Fruits of the Spirit:
Art from the Heart – Virtual Art Exhibition from the National Gallery
Devised by the National Gallery and museums throughout the UK, ‘Fruits of the Spirit: Art from the Heart’ pairs nine pictures from the National Gallery’s collection with nine from partner institutions. The spark of inspiration for the exhibition is a list of personal and communal attributes noted in the Bible’s New Testament. They are found in a letter that Saint Paul wrote to a community in Galatia, in Asia Minor, nearly 2000 years ago: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Saint Paul called these nine attributes ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ and promoted them in exemplary ways for communities to live together. Saint Paul emphasised that all the attributes are interconnected through divine love, and that they are all enhanced and deepened by each other. They remain just as relevant for everyone today. Each painting in this exhibition is a glimpse of the shared story of humanity across time, place and lived experience.
Visit here: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/visiting/virtual-tours/fruits-of-the-spirit
Free Hanukah Primary Schools Broadcast
The Jewish Museum Learning and Engagement Team are offering an exciting free live-streamed event in celebration of the Jewish festival of Hanukah. Tune in for storytelling, object exploration and a live candle lighting to celebrate the festival of Hanukah.
The Broadcast is on 14 December – 09:30 – 10.00 am On Zoom. This free live-streamed event is for Primary schools. Register here.
A Perfect Way to Finish Your Christmas Concert from PopUK
‘He Has Come’
A stirring easy-to-learn Christmas ballad with reassuring lyrics that bring hope, comfort and peace. An ideal song to end your Christmas concert as you wish parents, children and staff joyful seasonal greetings. Available FREE from the Pop UK online song bank. Listen here
Adventurous and imaginative ways to boost children’s engagement with RE from Springs Dance Company
Springs provides an exciting way for children to interact with the R.E. curriculum through physical movement and creativity and is now booking for Spring Term 2023.
PARABLE Interactive Performance Workshop – Combining a professional performance and integrated workshop experience in one, PARABLE provides an exciting opportunity for children to encounter and overcome creative challenges, accomplish tasks and influence the outcome of the performance whilst absorbed in a vibrant world of professional dance and theatre.
The Easter Project – These much-loved workshops provide a fresh and exciting way to explore the Easter story. The workshops can be delivered as a one-off day or a longer project and can culminate in an informal sharing or performance by the pupils.
Other popular workshops include The Good Samaritan, Creation, Get Fit Go Green, You Are Special and The Selfish Giant. Further details on all of our work for schools can be found at https://springsdancecompany.org.uk/index.php/join-in/schools-workshops To book and to find out more please email touring@springsdancecompany.org.uk or call 07775 628 442.
Presentation Slides from Last Month’s Schools & Academies Show
The Schools & Academies Show took place in Birmingham last month but if you were not able to attend, the slides from many of the presentations are now available to download. You can look through them and download them here.
My School Fund – Boost Your School Budget
My School Fund is an exciting initiative that combines the spending power of parents, guardians, school staff and other individuals to help boost school budgets. It’s free for schools to register and individuals connected to the school can earn cash back on their behalf as well as pocketing some for themselves when they spend with participating retailers, including Sainsbury’s and Argos. Since the launch in 2020, many schools and individuals have benefited from the programme, raising tens of thousands of pounds in card-linked rewards so far. What sets it apart from other fundraising initiatives is that it’s not just the school that benefits. Parents, guardians, school staff and other individuals can earn cashback for themselves at the same time. 1% of eligible spend goes to the school and 2% goes back to the individual. Find out more and register for free here.