Enhance Your Leadership Skills
Key stage 5
Welcome to the NATRE Secondary Subject Leader Pages for examined and non-examined courses of Religious Education at Key Stage 5.
We have many resources and links to support your role as subject leader in this key aspect of teaching RE.
All the content detailed and linked in these pages has been collated by Secondary members of the NATRE Executive and RE Today Advisers.
Look at the links below and let us help you in your role and support the teaching of effective RE in your school.
Secondary subject leader: A level
Resources for Teachers & Pupils
- National A-level NATRE Group – meets online termly. Contact [email protected] to be added to the mailing list.
- RE Online A Level Digest Archive
- The RE Podcast – S15 E7 The one about the importance of A-Level RE – in this episode Louisa speaks to people who did A-level RS about their experiences and how it has helped with their careers. They include people who have studied Medicine, Law and Theology. From Barristers to trainee RE teachers . A must for recruiting to A-level.
- TRS Theology & Religious Studies in Higher Education, UK – a treasure trove of information and links helpful for A-level RS
- Joe KInnaird – blog about writing introductions to A-level essays (relevant to OCR specifically
- Making links with universities
Resources for pupils
- The Panpsycast Podcasts – podcasts for A-level pupils including many interviews with contemporary philosophers
- In Our Time (Radio4) – a huge archive of radio programmes featuring leading academics. Look under Religion and Philosophy, Great for teacher subject knowledge and for more able pupils. – Religion
- In Our Time (Radio4) – a huge archive of radio programmes featuring leading academics. Look under Religion and Philosophy, Great for teacher subject knowledge and for more able pupils – philosophy
- TRS University of Chester Webinars Find links to recordings of A-level webinars here
- Divinity Philosophy – a blog for students and teachers of Religious Studies and Philosophy, developed by Charlotte Vardy. Includes a range of resources including advice on essay writing and example essays (note the example essays are very academic, and are very helpful for developing subject knowledge)
- Bangor University run revision seminars for A-level pupils. It is worth keeping an eye out for these.
- University of Nottingham YouTube Channel – over 150 videos related to a range of philosophical, religious and theological topics
- Faculty of Divinity, Cambridge University – You Tube
- https://www.divinity.cam.ac.uk/
- The Open University Religion & Society provides a range of resources and links that are useful for A-level RS
- The Royal Institute of Philosophy website has a range of articles, videos and podcasts useful in the study of Philosophy
- The RE Podcast – t dedicated religious education podcast for students and teachers. Bite-size weekly episodes on religion, ethics and philosophy with Louisa Jane Smith. Aimed more at GCSE, but lots of very useful episodes for A-level too
- Centre for Philosophy of Religion – the University of Notre Dame. Lots of interesting videos available
Essay Competitions
There are many essay competitions each year and they are a great way to stretch your pupils. Some have cash prizes for pupils and schools attached. Here are a selection for you to keep an eye out for:
Trinity College Cambridge Philosophy Essay Prize
David Garlick Prize, Nottingham University
John Locke Institute, Oxford University
New College of Humanities Essay Competition
Girton College, University of Cambridge Humanities essay
Logos Institute, St Andrews University
International Philosophy Olympiad
The Minds Underground™ Philosophy Essay Competition
Keble College Theology & Religion Essay Competition, University of Oxford
Lloyd Davies Philosophy Prize, Oriel College, Oxford
University of Sheffield Philosophy Essay Competition
St Mary’s University Essay Competition
Newnham College Philosophy essay Prize (Girls only)
