Paul Smalley
@pablopedantic.bsky.social
Experienced Academic who writes about education and RE Policy in England. I work with RE Council, NASACRE and others. Missional Leader at St James Church in West Warrington. BWFC fan. Former coach. Occasional cyclist.
We need more RE teachers to help ensure every child has access to high quality RE. If you know someone who might be interested in training as an RE teacher, please let them know about our webinar on 2nd July natre.org.uk/courses-and-events/graduates-teach-re-september-2026-theres-still-time/ #TeamRE
Graduates! Teach RE September 2026? There's still time. – NATRE
Date: 02 July 17.00 - 18.00
natre.org.uk
Do you want a challenging & rewarding career helping young people engage with big questions in life? Are you passionate about social justice & promoting positive community relations? If you said 'yes', consider becoming an RE teacher! www.cstg.org.uk/campaigns/te...
Becoming an RE teacher
Do you want a challenging and rewarding career helping young people engage with the big questions in life? Are you passionate about social justice and promoting positive community relations? Learn mor...
cstg.org.uk
The Religion Media Centre Briefing recording on the #CaAR report is now available youtu.be/CxhYIHgBABQ?... For those #TeamRE folk interested in how this affects SACREs the 4 minutes from 23:52 are informative, but the whole thing is well worth a listen
RMC Briefing: Religious Education in the National Curriculum
YouTube video by Religion Media Centre
youtu.be
The NASACRE Chairs group have written this response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review report, 'Building a world-class curriculum for all' nasacre.org.uk/wp-content/u... #TeamRE
Really interesting question to consider, especially around the variances between faiths - is it a comfort with material that makes it easier to approach through other lenses? - is there a wariness of offending communities? The article is straight to the top of the to-read pile
Thrilled this article is out! Looking at nascent Islam, it argues that in RE, even with disciplinary intent, historical enquiry is often neglected and faith narratives get rehearsed as fact. Open Access thanks to @livhopefess.bsky.social link.springer.com/article/10.1... #TeamRE
Boldly applying historical ways of knowing to the study of nascent Islam in RE - Journal of Religious Education
An examination of Religious Education (RE) textbooks reveals that when pupils are taught about the history of Makkah, the life of Muhammad, the Quran, and the emergence of Islam, the content is often presented as a straightforward narrative based on Islamic tradition. This approach typically lacks critical engagement and overlooks alternative scholarly perspectives. Notably, historians such as Patricia Crone and Michael Cook in the 1970s, and more recently Tom Holland, have raised significant questions about the historical reliability of these traditional accounts. Their work suggests that the origins of Islam are more complex and contested than commonly portrayed. This paper argues that a Religion and Worldviews approach to RE should encourage the use of historical ways of knowing—including critical historical methods, tools of analysis, and engagement with diverse scholarly viewpoints. It contends that pupils should be equipped to interrogate sources, assess evidence, and understand the nature of historical inquiry as applied to religious narratives. Through an analysis of current RE textbooks and a review of critical scholarship, this paper highlights the lack of criticality in existing materials. It proposes that educators can and should boldly introduce pupils to these historical methods, fostering a more informed, nuanced, and academically rigorous understanding of the early development of Islam.
link.springer.com
Delighted that from September I will be teaching on the RE PGCE at Liverpool Hope University. #TeamRE
I’m delighted to share that I’m starting a new role as Executive Officer at NASACRE! This is a new post to support the executive in carrying out its aims and priorities, working on behalf of member SACREs. #TeamRE
Really pleased to have joined the mentoring Team for @culhamstgabriel.bsky.social Leadership Programme. It is such a valuable programme that helps nurture the next generation of RE leaders.
Culham St Gabriel's@culhamstgabriel.bsky.social · last yr.📚 New blog post! As the academic year draws to a close, Leadership Scholarship Programme participant Neil Duncalf reflects on what he’s learned and enjoyed along the way, from presenting at a national conference to building community. www.reonline.org.uk/2025/07/14/t...
I'm proud that over nearly 20 years I've helped hundreds of people achieve their dream of becoming a teacher, and helped hundreds more get better at teaching. On 1st June I will leave Edge Hill, and see what the future holds for me.
Brilliant programme on BBC1 now for #TeamRE. Sunday Kitchen are doing a special on Buddhism for Wesak Day
Can you spot me in @kathrynfenlodge.bsky.social's busy week? #TeamRE
Culham St Gabriel's@culhamstgabriel.bsky.social · last yr.A week in the life of a CEO! From the @thefea.bsky.social strategy workshop to the Religious Education Council AGM, steering groups, team meet-ups, and the Christian Funders Forum — @kathrynfenlodge.bsky.social shares what being CEO of Culham St Gabriel's looks like in action.
I cannot recommend this experience enough. It is a fantastic opportunity for your professional development, but also a great deal of fun. Do it!
I have been thinking about this title for the #teamRE summer school. How about these for project ideas? 1. Looking at digital pilgrimages - do they have the same spiritual meaning? 2. How ancient religious concepts can drive modern activism. Ahimsa, stewardship, sewa.… 1/2
@roywd.bsky.social Only just heard the news about @missdcox.bsky.social through the summer school WhatsApp. I hope and pray that she will be alright 🙏.
A brilliant opportunity for our Edge Hill University Year 2 Secondary QTS Undergraduates to learn about Phonics, Outdoor Learning and all things Primary at Eatock Primary School.
This is the key paragraph for #TeamRE from the CaAR assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67d961...
Great way to spend a Weds evening - hearing #TeamRE experts discussing the C&A Review and their hopes for RE 🤞🏼🤞🏼 Thanks @culhamstgabriel.bsky.social for hosting and facilitating these discussions!
Our Edge Hill Year 3 QTS Undergraduates are today visiting RunshawCollege to find out about teaching at Post-16
Come and join my team! Opportunity for an Secondary English PGCE Course Lead at Edge Hill University. jobs.edgehill.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
Job Vacancy at Edge Hill University: Senior Lecturer in Secondary Education (PGCE English)
About the RoleAs Senior Lecturer in Secondary Education (PGCE English), you will significantly contribute to the delivery of our Secondary Education English modules and to the delivery of other areas ...
jobs.edgehill.ac.uk
"There can be no educational rationale for why a pupil in Hampshire requires a different pedagogical approach to RE than one in neighbouring Sussex." 👀
If you look really hard, you can spot me in this article about RE Hubs by @claireclinton1967.bsky.social #TeamRE
HWRK Magazine@hwrk-magazine.bsky.social · 2y agoAre you an RE teacher? Check out this article in HWRK Magazine, by @claireclinton1967.bsky.social on how RE Hubs might benefit you and your students. hwrkmagazine.co.uk/how-will-re-... #UKed #EduSky
I’m chuffed this has had almost 350 reads in 2 weeks doi.org/10.1080/1361... #TeamRE #EduSky #UKEd
Reimagining the accidentally local in English RE
This paper will critically analyse the assertion that ‘The local argument for the Locally Agreed Syllabus has been lost’ (57). It will begin by briefly sketching the historical background to the un...
doi.org
Cheers @pablopedantic.bsky.social. I did read your article and have been thinking about it a lot recently.
Great post as always from Nikki. Chimes with my recent article doi.org/10.1080/1361... #TeamRE
Reimagining the accidentally local in English RE
This paper will critically analyse the assertion that ‘The local argument for the Locally Agreed Syllabus has been lost’ (57). It will begin by briefly sketching the historical background to the un...
doi.org
Nikki McGee@re-mcgee.bsky.social · 2y agoNew blog post! For all those RE teachers filling in the Curriculum and Assessment Review and calling for an RE National Curriculum - some ideas for local study units - researched and shared by SACREs #TeamRE #Edusky 🍎 rewithmrsmcgee.wordpress.com/2024/11/20/a...
