Events, Training and Resources

Throughout the academic year the Diocesan Board of Education & Training organises a number of events and training opportunities for children, staff and governors. Alongside these regular events, individual schools and cluster groups are encouraged to invite the officers of the Board into school to provide personally tailored INSET, or to speak at staff and governors meetings.

Cathedral Days

Every October two popular large scale events for KS2 pupils are organised at the Cathedral. These alternate between workshop events in even-numbered years, and music festivals in odd numbered years. A ceiling of 800 children per day is set (and rigorously adhered to!) which can leave the days over subscribed. These events take a great deal of planning, so booking for them and confirmation of numbers actually takes place the preceding January. Each Cathedral Day is accompanied by an RE based workshop pack (carefully tailored to fit the Agreed Syllabus) for use in school.

During the year other events are arranged at the Cathedral on which schools can book places. Recently there have been several "Maximus Mouse Days" for Y3/4 pupils in the Spring Term, and similar events are sure to follow.

The Cathedral also has its own comprehensive education programme - details are available on 01353 667735.

If you would like ideas and help in running Church Days in your own locality, along the same lines as the Cathedral Days, do contact the Schools RE Adviser for assistance on 01353 652712.

Re Inset

In co-operation with the Keswick Hall Trust, the Diocesan Board of Education & Training runs Primary School RE Liaison Groups at eight different venues per term. The groups are centred on: Cambridge, Ely, March, Wisbech, Huntingdon, Peterborough, SW Cambs and West Norfolk (some groups move venue, others always meet in the same school). The dates of meetings and RE topics being covered can be found in "Manna" which is the Diocesan Education Team's termly magazine and which is sent to all church schools.

The Schools RE Adviser is always prepared to respond to requests from schools for RE INSET (free to church schools). She also enjoys running RE Days and working with the children themselves.

Resources

All church schools are eligible to register as borrowing members of the Diocesan Resources Centre which is situated in Bishop Woodford House, Barton Road, Ely. The centre serves both schools and parishes. There is a wide selection of Christian resources for borrowing as well as materials on other faiths (specifically Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism). There is a growing artefacts and video lending system. Individuals borrow materials for two weeks at a time, but special loan arrangements are in place for schools which are allowed to borrow RE materials for half a term. Schools are advised to book the most popular resources in advance (Tel. 01353 652725). The Resources Centre is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm on weekdays (excluding lunch hours).

As part of the RE Liaison Group system outlined above, a boot-load of RE resources is taken to each meeting for browsing and borrowing. Schools may borrow books for a term by these means, but unfortunately not artefacts or videos. It is recommended that schools ring the centre in advance of the meeting if they know they are looking for books on a particular topic.

Governor Training

The Diocesan Board of Education & Training stages governor training events throughout the year. The courses are offered in co-operation with Cambridgeshire's Governor Support Service and places may be booked through their office on 01223-712267. Those schools situated in Peterborough Unitary Authority or West Norfolk, or who have not bought in to the Cambridgeshire service, may book places on these particular courses through the Diocese on 01353-652712.

Newsletters on diocesan and national initiatives are sent out to governing bodies as appropriate, and officers are happy to respond to invitations to speak at governors' meetings.

The National Society

Commonly known as "The National Society", this organisation's full title is "The National Society (Church of England) for Promoting Religious Education". It is a Church of England and Church in Wales education support service, undertaking at a national level a similar role to Ely's Diocesan Board of Education & Training staff.

The National Society runs training courses, offers a legal and inspection advice service, has RE Centres in London and York, and holds an extensive national archive of church school materials, including copies of all Section 23 Inspection Reports. The National Society also has its own publishing arm which produces a wide range of publications covering many aspects of Christian education. At present (1999) subscription to the National Society costs £22 per school. The Society will be have their own web page from 2000, which will also be a source of help and resources.

The National Society's address is : Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3NZ. Tel: 0171-2221672 E-mail info@natsoc.org.uk

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