Welcome to the Virtual Consultation

We have two GCSE (full course) specifications, A and B. Specification A includes the study of two world faiths from a choice of 7, and the study of ethical themes or textual studies. This route offers the maximum flexibility for centres in terms of the religions and themes studied. Specification B includes Catholic Christianity, ethical themes / texts and the study of Islam or Judaism.

We also offer a GCSE Short Course specification. Students following this route study the beliefs of two world faiths and two ethical themes.

Yes, we have AS and A-Level RS qualifications in our portfolio. Both qualifications include the study of philosophy of religion, ethics and a world faith. Our A-Level assessments build on the skills developed at GCSE and consist of a range of separate AO1 and AO2 questions which allow maximum accessibility.

We also offer A Level Philosophy.

Learners struggling at GCSE may find AQA's Unit Award Scheme (UAS) offers more opportunities for achievement. The scheme is based around learners completing short units which directly map to AQA's Religious Studies GCSE A & B/Short Course offer. Find out more here.

We are regularly updating all information about the 2022 exam series on our main webpage and on our subject pages too. If you'd like to receive email updates from us, you can sign up here.

Yes! We welcome applications from all colleagues with relevant academic qualifications and teaching experience. Find out more here.

Our most popular resources are the 'Sources of Wisdom' GCSE resources. These are exam board-specific student workbooks which explore how the Bible is a source of wisdom and authority for Christians, and how it influences Christian beliefs, teachings and practices. They are available for AQA, Edexcel, Eduqas, OCR and WJEC and can be found here. You can download a sample on our literature display.

Yes, we do. Our topic-based key stage 3 resources will help to develop your students' biblical literacy while they study Christian responses to the big questions around topics which include the environment, suffering, poverty and miracles. You can find them here. Take a look at the sample on our literature stand.

Take a look at our 'Teachers Guides', which will give you all that you'll need to know about key Bible passages, in under 15 minutes' reading and also include sample resources to use with your students. Topics include the The Big Story of the Bible, The Creation Narratives, the Book of Job, The Gospels, and The Good Samaritan, and you can get them here. You can download the Teachers Guide on The Creation Narratives on our literature stand.

Not yet, but we are working on it! We have some primary RE resources in the pipeline, and if you would like us to contact you to let you know when new things for primary schools are ready, you can let us know that by using the contact form. For Bible storytelling in collective worship, take a look at Open the Book.

RE:ONLINE provides an extensive range of resources for teachers including:

• Knowledge: Covering a variety of worldview traditions
• Resources: Classroom resources and knowledge pieces from Foundation Stage through to Key Stage 5 including personal voices from religion and worldviews
• Leadership: Information, resources and inspiration on topics such as curriculum and assessment for those leading the subject
• Research: An extensive library of research reports, research of the month feature, and details of how to engage with and in research.
• Regular blog feature and a Festivals Calendar

We currently offer free self-study courses and our own events programme. There are four self-study courses, one for Primary ITT/ECTs, and three for teachers of any phase. You can register at any time here. We hold ‘In Conversation’ events with researchers throughout the year. Find out more here. In summer 2022 we will be launching our own new e-learning platform with a new professional development programme. From 7-8 October 2022 we will be hosting RExChange, an online conference with the theme real world research for real world classrooms.

The Masters Scholarship is a way to help teachers of Religion and Worldviews (RE) to take a relevant part-time Masters course at a reduced cost. There are a limited number of places each year. If you don’t qualify for a Masters scholarship, you might consider a personal professional development grant. Small-Scale grants are awarded for new innovative projects which support the Trust’s vision and strategic goals. The maximum amount for you can apply is £5K. Large-Scale grants are awarded for projects and research which support the Trust’s vision and strategic goals. The maximum amount you can apply for is £30K. www.cstg.org.uk

Applications are now open for this programme for September 2022 (Deadline 31st March). The programme aims to help you find your voice as a regional or national leader and equip you in four areas: pedagogy, research, curriculum and policy. You can find out more here.

One of the Trust’s strategic objectives is influencing government policy in supporting Religion and Worldviews. In light of this Trust actively supports the recruitment of teachers and the promotion of the recommendations of the Commission on RE (2018). In June 2021 we commissioned a national survey about public perception, you can find out about the results here.

We publish resources to support: ISEB Religion, Theology and Philosophy for Common for 13+; KS3; GCSE, including resources for every GCSE specification; A-level, including AQA (RS and Philosophy), OCR, Pearson Edexcel, WJEC/Eduqas, plus resources suitable for all A-level RS specifications. Find out more on our website

We produce a wide range of print and digital resources for Religious Studies to support both teachers and students, including: Exam board approved/endorsed textbooks; eTextbooks; digital teaching and learning and exam practice resources; revision guides (print and digital formats); study guides; workbooks; and teacher CPD training and student revision – live, online events and on-demand, downloadable resources.

We offer free eInspection Copies of our print resources which allow you to review titles online for 30 days. You can also request free 14- or 30-day trials of our digital resources – no obligations and no auto-enrolment.

• A free revision guide for every delegate! Claim a free copy of a My Revision Notes title of your choice. Choose from 25 titles across GCSE and A-level Religious Studies and Philosophy! Fill in this form during the conference to claim your copy
• 25% off all Religious Studies print resources when you order at the conference or set up a future appointment with your local sales consultant

Speak to Hodder Education consultants today and make the most of our exclusive offers! Simply use the following link to join our consultants via Zoom.

Or you can speak to your local Hodder Education consultant at any time about your resourcing needs, to get demos of our digital products and receive bespoke quotes. Find details for your local consultant here.

Or email RE.Team@hodder.co.uk with your school name and postcode and we’ll put you in touch.

Humanism is a positive, non-religious approach to life shared by millions of people in the UK. Humanists rely on evidence and reason to discover truths about the universe, and put human welfare and happiness at the centre of their ethics. Humanists see no persuasive evidence for an afterlife or any discernible purpose to the universe, but believe human beings can act to make their own lives meaningful, find happiness in the one life they know they have, and support others to do the same. You can find more information about humanism on the Understanding Humanism website.

Our extensive range of new resources for ages 5-18 can be found on the Understanding Humanism website. To help you plan a unit of learning on humanism, they’re arranged into five core areas of knowledge: Human Beings, Understanding the World, the One Life, Humanist Ethics, and Society. Under each heading, you will find information sheets, presentations, activities, films, and assessments. We have also added resources on the history of humanism and its influence on modern society.

Our humanist school speakers are trained and accredited to deliver sessions such as a classroom workshop with Q&A, to give an assembly, or to contribute to a multi-belief panel. Currently we are offering either remote or in-person visits. To book a free visit from a humanist school speaker, please complete the ‘Request a School Speaker’ form in the ‘School Speakers’ section of the Understanding Humanism website. In 2021 teachers gave our school speakers an average rating of 4.9 out of 5!

As well as a list of recommended reading included on the Understanding Humanism website, we also offer two free online courses on humanism. These online courses include ‘Introducing Humanism’ with Sandi Toksvig, and ‘Humanist Lives’ with Alice Roberts - both are freely available from the FutureLearn website.

Yes! We offer teacher training to fit your school’s needs, offering support with subject knowledge and practical ideas for the classroom. For more information, visit the ‘Training’ section of the Understanding Humanism website.

Here’s some feedback we’ve received for our teacher training:

‘Some of the most useful training I have ever been on. So many practical ideas.’
Samantha Kennedy, KS2 teacher and RE coordinator

‘Absolutely brilliant! Best training I’ve had. Extremely useful practical examples of use in the class with good age range and superb speaker.’
Anna Crosby, KS1/2 teacher and RE Curriculum Lead for North Lincolnshire

‘This session has been really fantastic, thank you! I feel I have come out understanding humanism a lot more as even I sometimes struggled to distinguish it from atheism.’
Helena Moore, KS3-5 RS teacher

Book with Confidence with the Jewish Museum! We’ve designed a new three stream service for schools which enables you to book the programme that works best for you and your students. Choose from:

• Online Virtual Classrooms sessions
• Outreach Visits to your classroom
• Museum Workshops

All our bookings can be easily transferred from one to the other for no extra cost so you can book with confidence. No matter what changes arise you can rely on us to deliver expert sessions to your students.

We are pleased to announce our 6 new GCSE Text Study workshops designed to give your students an in-depth look at key sources of authority in Judaism. These virtual workshops cover thematic studies related to the GCSE curriculum including:

• Sexuality & Gender
• Tikkun Olam & the Environment
• Sanctity of Life
• Death & Afterlife
• Good & Evil: Book of Job
• Charity & Social Justice

Each session will give your students an overview of where these concepts come from in Judaism and look at a range of contemporary sources to understand how they are interpreted by Jewish people of different backgrounds.

Our Primary school workshops are interactive and multi-sensory and designed to encourage students to learn about the vibrancy of Jewish religion, history and culture. Our Discovering Judaism workshops are available as Virtual Classrooms, Outreach visits and Museum workshops. Understand why the Torah is central to Jewish people of all backgrounds, learn more about Shabbat--the Jewish day of rest and journey through the Jewish year with our festival workshops. We also offer Kindertransport workshops for years 5 & 6 where students can have the once in a lifetime opportunity to meet a survivor through our virtual speaker programme.

Bring contemporary Judaism to your classroom with our Object Loan Boxes. Our loan boxes are Covid-19 safe and ready to come to your school for up to 6 weeks. Through authentic objects and online curriculum based activities spark your students’ curiosity on Jewish festivals, lifecycle events and beliefs in practice. Each box comes with Teachers Notes, Activity ideas and exclusive online content to enhance students learning. Our Object Loan Boxes have 6 topics each and are available for Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and Key Stages 3, 4 &5.

At the Jewish Museum we care about teachers feeling ready, supported and inspired when teaching their students about Judaism and Jewish history. Led by our expert facilitators our Teachers’ CPD sessions are informative, engaging and encourage questions. Online Teachers CPD sessions:

• Thurs 11th March, 4 – 5pm Sources Authority for Secondary Teachers An introduction to the Torah, Tanakh, Talmud and Midrash writings and how they are used and interpreted.
• Thurs 18th March, 4 – 5pm Shabbat Across the Streams for Primary Teachers Discover the diversity of practice of Shabbat and explore what makes this commandment so special across different streams of Judaism.

• The DfE and Ofqual carried out a consultation over the summer of 2021 about the arrangements for summer 2022
• There are no changes planned to the specifications or assessments for A Level RS
• Advance information will be provided by exam boards by 7 February to support student revision
• OCR has published summary guidance on Advance Information
• JCQ has published FAQ for centres and students on the summer 2022 arrangements
• OCR will update teachers through our website and social media channels – please follow @educationgovuk, @ofqual and @ocrexams for further details

This year we are publishing Grade 9 GCSE exemplars. We have specifications, sample assessment materials, past question papers and mark schemes, examiner reports, candidate answers with commentaries, a scheme of work and curriculum plans. We have produced an assessment guide which explains the rationale behind our question papers which features a command words section (also available as a poster). Last year we have published a revision checklist for GCSE RS, along with a blog for GCSE RS students with exam tips and guidance, which can be downloaded as a PDF. More is coming. Check out the GCSE page here.

This year we are publishing Grade A* A Level exemplars. We have specifications, sample assessment materials, past question papers and mark schemes, examiner reports, candidate answers with commentaries and curriculum planners. We have also published an assessment guide for A level – a command words resource giving the words we use in questions along with explanations, examples, and illustrations. A blog for A level RS students has also been published, with a review of the exams and tips. Check out the A level page here.

We ran our online teacher networks for OCR RS in the autumn and we are hoping to hold in-person meetings in the summer. Check out the OCR teacher networks page here. We have produced a number of blogs in the past couple of years that you may find useful – check out the OCR blogs here. If you are interested in becoming an examiner, find out more here.

Anyone who would like to be involved in sharing and listening to stories from varied faith traditions or worldviews.

Any which have texts as 'carriers of meaning' for their communities.

Some of the texts carry significant meaning for people, especially when in the original language. Whilst we use a translation of the original text, it is important to treat them with respect.

Be honest and say that you don't know. Let them know that if you are able to find the answer then you will tell them subsequently.

RE:QUEST is a website that contains relevant and engaging resources to help RE teachers and their students learn about the Christian faith. It has a brand new look, designed to help you organise and deliver authentic lessons which meet your curriculum needs.

All the resources are created by practising Christians and, as such, you can be assured that they reflect the true nature of the Christian faith, whilst also being highly curriculum focused.

We’ve been working hard to improve the site and recently added the following features:

• SEND feature, which students and teachers can alter the text font, colour and size, the background colour, contrasts and much more. This makes our resources much more accessible, individualising the learning experience for our users.
• ‘Boards’ section, where you will be able to organise curriculum resources in one place on any given topic. Once created, you can return to them again and again. A great feature of this section is the ability to create ‘learning boards,’ collating resources on specific topics, before sending your students a link which enables access to them
• Improved GCSE section, with all syllabus topics now covered.
• Better search facility giving a more efficient experience. Once you have clicked on the chosen age group, you will find different topic areas and concepts. You can drill down further by selecting a specific topic area.

RE:QUEST is owned by British Youth for Christ, a Christian charity which is committed to working with children, young people, youth workers and teachers across the UK. As such we aim to:

• Support teachers as they deliver teaching on Christianity to all key stages.
• Provide RE teachers with a wide variety of quality resources that truly reflect the Christian faith.
• Support teacher and student development in understanding the Christian faith.

You can click here to find out more about how to use RE:QUEST

A whole range of free digital resources (many of which are interactive for the Learner to use). These include revision checklists, a 2019 Exam Walk-Through, knowledge organisers and a resource that shows how the Oak Academy Resources can be adapted to suit the Eduqas specification:

Eduqas Resources
Oak & Eduqas

Introductory resources, free training, a document that shows the common areas across all specifications:
Introductory video for Learners (Route A)

A resource that shows the areas of commonality across different specifications for schools that are considering switching Boards or have recently switched.

We also offer new schools and teachers a free half day training session with a Regional Support Officer. Please e-mail the Subject Officer directly for further information: Lynda.maddock@eduqas.co.uk

Free on-line training – book here

We have created general resources for Teachers e.g. option evening flyers that can help to promote the subject

Our on-line magazine for Teachers and Learners. See edition 5 here (and previous editions on the Digital Resources Site.

Access to a Google map that shows all Eduqas schools and which Component Religion they teach. Here is the link to the questionnaire that gives us permission to add you to the map and give you access to it

There is also a share space where Teachers can share their resources.

• Marked example answers
• Previous CPD training materials (that include marked example answers)
• Detailed Principal Examiner reports

We have 3 subscriptions available:

• individual
• school
• institutional

These are tiered based on the amount of user access required.

All NATRE members get 25% off a school or individual subscription to the REtoday Library.

Yes – all NATRE members can access the Professional REflection articles on the REtoday Library site for free. You can find details and a coupon code in your member area when you log in to the NATRE website.

This resource is for anyone teaching about Christianity in RE. It supports teachers of 5-14s whilst also laying an excellent foundation for GCSE. It was written for teachers in community schools, church schools, academies and free schools. It is particularly aimed at supporting teachers who do not feel confident about their subject knowledge in teaching about Christianity.

Understanding Christianity is a training and resource package. It offers a coherent approach to teaching and learning about Christianity in the wider RE curriculum. Pupils build on prior learning to develop a coherent understanding of Christian belief and practice. It offers practical and realistic support for teachers in the classroom, with clarity in terms of subject knowledge and outcomes and a wide range of creative and thoughtful learning ideas. Understanding Christianity gives you:

• Training to use the resource
• A full digital and hard copy resource pack
• 22 Primary units
• 7 KS3 units
• ‘The Big Frieze’

You can find dates across the country from a number of different trainers from our website
You can find RE Today’s training dates on the RE Today website

For the purposes of this subsidy, we define a community school as a school or academy that does not receive influence (financial or operational) from any religious organisation such as the Church of England. A good indicator is, if your school has Church/CofE (or equivalent) in the name, you will not be eligible for this subsidy. This funding is restricted to community schools as there was a highly successful roll-out of the resource in CofE schools following the launch in 2016. This funding is to help the resource support more schools who did not have as ready access to training.

If you would be interested in becoming an accredited trainer to lead Understanding Christianity courses in your area, we’d love to hear from you!

We run courses for trainers approximately once a year – we keep a wait list and will announce the next session when we have 10+ signed up.

Contact linzey@retoday.org.uk to be added to the list.

Local Groups range in size and focus, but all are made up of RE teachers who want to meet, share support and network with other teachers in their area. Some groups are Primary, some are Secondary, and there are also cross-phase groups. Groups are mostly run by teachers, or by local advisers or lecturers. Groups often meet once or twice a term to share knowledge, resources and offer support.

The majority of teacher-led groups meet in the school of the group leader; other groups meet in a variety of locations from coffee shops to CPD centres. Many have successfuly moved online during the pandemic.

NATRE affiliation is optional for any local group; it enables the group to benefit from the support we can offer.

You would be immediately connected to a supportive and welcoming group of teachers in your area. You will be able to share expertise, best-practice and resources in a friendly and informal setting.

You’ll also receive a free resource from NATRE (via your group leader) each term and hear about local, regional and national updates about RE.

You can check for groups in your area on our map
Local Group leaders can list their meetings on the NATRE website for you to find.
They may also promote them on social media or through existing local networks.
If you can’t find a group in your area get in touch with our Local Groups Officer, Saima Saleh, who will be happy to help.

You don’t need to be a member to come along to a Local Group or start one. We do actively encourage Leaders and attendees to join so that you can access all the support and resources that NATRE has to offer.

Your first port of call is to get in touch with our NATRE Local Groups Officer – Saima Saleh – via the contact form on this stand. Let her know where you are based and what phase group you are interested in setting up. She’ll give you advice and support to help you get started.

There are lots of different ways to start and run a Local Group – you could become a group leader who organises and hosts meetings or you could work with other teachers to share the role; maybe having a group chair that alternates or simply alternating hosts.

All of our membership packages are designed to support you to deliver RE lessons knowledgeably and with confidence, whether you’re a specialist or non-specialist teacher of RE. NATRE membership offers a comprehensive support package which allows you and your staff to get all the training, support and ready to use classroom resources that can be used time and time again to make your budget stretch further. NATRE is YOUR subject association – we exist to support and represent you. The more members we have, the louder our voice can be!

Following our relaunch, you’ll get:

• 3 x mailings each year with REtoday magazine & a primary and/or secondary book with sequenced teaching strategies, resources, background knowledge and much more
• 25% off all RE Today publications
• 25% off all RE Today courses
• Access to hundreds of resources on our website
• Welcome webinar
• Monthly newsletters
• Online access to our journal, Professional REflection
• And much more!

Check out the full benefits for each package on our website.

There are several ways you can join.
You can email your order to admin@natre.org.uk
You can call us on 0121 458 3313
You can buy direct from our online shop

If you would like your school to be invoiced for membership, we will need an order in writing (via email) and any Purchase Order or references your finance department need included.

We will email all members when we relaunch the membership to let you know what has changed. You won’t need to do anything. The next time your membership is due to renew we’ll move you over to the comparable package and let you know your other options. Don’t worry – your benefits and discounts will be improved and the prices of the new membership are comparable to existing memberships.

NATRE is an ideas factory and a cheerful community for all things Religious Education. We provide access to publications, online resources and courses to support professional development – suitable for those teaching age 4 up to age 19.

There are lots of FREE resources available on our website, and we provide lots of current and relevant information on our news section and social media channels to keep you informed.

NATRE advises and supports teachers in schools where RE is under pressure. Is your RE under threat? Does it need to get better? If so, get in touch.

NATRE is a focal point for the concerns of RE professionals, a representative voice at national level for all who teach and lead in RE, and we are here to support and represent all RE teachers regardless of whether you are a member.

There are lots of ways to order from us.

You can purchase online and pay using credit/debit card via our webshop
You can email your order to sales@retoday.org.uk
Or you can call us on 0121 458 3313 (you will be asked for payment to place an order over the phone)

Yes – we just need the order in writing which can be emailed to sales@retoday.org.uk

Please ensure that you include a copy of your Purchase Order if this is your school’s process.

The easiest way is to email your order to sales@retoday.org.uk along with your membership number.

You can also use your discount on orders placed via our online shop. The shop receives an updated list of members weekly, so there may be a slight delay between your membership starting and the shop recognising your discount.

Yes! If you order your NATRE membership and resources at the same time we can make sure the discount is applied. Please email the order for both items to sales@retoday.org.uk.

Every effort will be made to get your items to you as quickly as we can. This will usually be 3-5 working days.