Local Networking Groups
Each of the Local Networking Groups are Lead by DBE Lead RE Teachers who have a wealth of experience in leading RE in their schools and Trusts. They are supported in their roles by Debbie Yeomans from RE Today who meets with them termly, providing National and Regional updates. Click through the tabs below to find out more about your local CW leading teacher, and how to contact them.
Leicester City
Rachel Buckby
Overview
I am currently a year 6 class teacher at St John the Baptist CE Primary School in Leicester, having previous taught in year 3 and spending much of my teaching career in EYFS and year 1. Having been the RE coordinator for over 20 years I am well established in my role. I have led RE across the school introducing new locally agreed syllabi and Diocesan schemes of work as well as embedding the Understanding Christianity resource into our RE curriculum. In my role at school I have been significantly involved in SIAMs preparation. I have led staff meetings which colleagues have described as ‘inspiring’. I have been a leading teacher in the diocese for several years and am a member of the NATRE executive committee.
Career Experience
- I have been an RE coordinator for over 20 years in two different schools, both very multicultural and multi-faith which has enabled me to use my subject knowledge from my degree. I have supported my current school through several Church school inspections playing a significant part in completing SEFs and engaging in dialogue with inspectors.
- I have been a leading teacher for the diocese for a number of years and run a local network meeting for RE coordinators.
- I have led seminars at local RE conferences at Beaumanor Hall on creative approaches to the teaching of RE. I have also run training sessions for a small group of HLTAs and TAs who teach RE as well as supporting new RE coordinators.
- I am currently on the executive committee for NATRE. As part of this role I have written some articles which have been published in the RE Today magazine, contributed to books on assessment in RE. I have also led seminars at national conferences.
Specialist Expertise
I am an experienced EYFS & KS1 teacher, having spent the majority of my career teaching in these 2 key stages, but have more recently spent time teaching year years 3 and 6 giving me experience of teaching RE across all primary phases. I have led seminars at national conferences focussing on Re in the early years. As the Collective Worship coordinator within my current school, I have supported the development of links between the church and the school as well as supported other schools on developing reflection areas and Christian distinctiveness.
Hinckley & Bosworth and Quorn
Overview
I work at Tudor Grange Samworth Academy, a church of England School on the Saffron Lane Estate on the edge of the city, for pupils ranging from 3-16. As part of the primary leadership team, I co-ordinate RE and Collective worship whilst teaching in Year 6 and leading on SATs delivery. The rare “all-through” setup at TGSA means that I have the unique opportunity to co-develop an RE curriculum that progresses and builds all the way from KS1 to KS4. This year, I have worked closely with our Secondary lead for Spiritual development in ensuring our Christian Vision and values can be articulated and embodied by all students, no matter their age or cultural background.
Career Experience
I have now been teaching for over 20 years, both in Leicester and Northamptonshire. Although predominantly in Year 6, I have had experience in teaching classes at all ages in KS2. My RE role has grown over the last 5 years, including the development of a new RE curriculum, leading staff CPD, liaising with regular assembly visitors and arranging ‘experience’ days for all primary pupils at Christmas and Easter. Last year, working with our local church, St Christophers, we ran a prayer space which all pupils from school years 5-8 engaged with.
Specialist Expertise
The longer I have been teaching for, the greater my enjoyment and passion for good quality RE lessons. They have become my favourite lessons to teach or to lead assemblies on, and I love seeing pupils of all ages, abilities and faiths growing in confidence to share and discuss their own ideas and beliefs about Religion and Spirituality. I firmly believe that RE lessons give pupils a chance to discuss and ask questions in a way that few other subjects can do. Through leading the subject, and running training sessions with staff, I aim to share my passion with my colleagues and encourage them to have these discussions that they might previously have shied away from.
NW Leicestershire
Fiona Greening
Overview
Since 2012 I have been working in a small village C of E Primary School as teacher of a mixed class of reception, year one & two. I also teach RE to the KS2 classes. I am the RE and collective worship Coordinator and also have responsibility for Literacy, PSHE and music. As part of my BEd course I studied Religious Studies as my main subject.
Career Experience
I have taught in a number of different counties during my career, Hertfordshire, Cornwall & now Leicestershire which has given me some insight into variations in different curriculums. I have been the RE coordinator in most of the schools that I have worked during my career and have had to think through how to give children experience of a number of religions whilst living in a more remote areas.
As part of my role as mentor of SCITT students I have led a training session for students on RE. I have attended much of the Leicestershire RE training over the last five years as well as attending the National Strictly RE and AREIAC Conferences.
I lead the NW Leicestershire Network meeting and as part of this role have supported individuals who have needed advice or support into leading RE in their school. This has mainly been by meeting one to one or by inviting them observe RE teaching within my school.
Specialist Expertise
I have experience of teaching RE in a small school, where mixed age planning is needed and have taught for most of my career in reception and KS1. Also, I have worked with the head teacher to prepare for our SIAMS inspection and ensure that our school has a Christian ethos. I regularly lead reflective RE days in school and develop the use of the Understanding Christianity resources within school and ensuring that pupils understand the big story of the bible. I have also lead seminars on Diversity within Christianity and I am currently completely my second year of the Culham St Gabriel’s RE Leadership course and am researching an approach to help Challenge Religious stereotypes with year 5&6 pupils.
South Leicestershire
Rachel Spadaccini
Email Rachel for information – r.spadaccini@ipat.uk
Overview
I am currently the year 3 teacher at Gilmorton Chandler CE Primary School, Leicestershire. I became the RE leader in 2013. During my time as RE leader I have introduced and monitored the teaching of the locally agreed RE syllabi Harmony and Diversity followed by Religious Literacy for All and, more recently, the Diocesan Understanding Christianity scheme of work. I continue to monitor the impact of RE teaching on pupil outcomes and develop the use of assessment materials to support our teaching staff. I am a leading RE teacher for the DBE and lead/jointly lead a range of RE networks.
Career Experience
Prior to joining Gilmorton Chandler in 2012, I taught in a multicultural, multi faith school in Leicester City. The majority of my teaching experience has been in key stage 2 although I was fortunate to cover a part-time Early Years’ Foundation Stage maternity leave vacancy in my current school. I have supported Gilmorton Chandler through two successful Section 48 inspections – judged outstanding in 2014 and excellent under the new framework in 2019. During both inspections I engaged in detailed dialogue with the inspectors, providing evidence which matched our self-evaluation. In recent years I have had articles published in both RE Today and the diocesan publication ‘Shaped by God’. I have led numerous school staff meetings relating to RE and SIAMS and also lead the academy trust RE forum meetings. Additionally, I have been a leading RE teacher for the DBE for approximately 2 years and lead the local NATRE meetings in south Leicestershire. Following the excellent judgement for SIAMS 2019, I have supported a range of school leaders in the development of their church school self-evaluation.
Specialist Expertise
I am highly experienced at developing links between local churches and the school and also between the local community and the school; many of these latter links are creative in nature and involve parent and community participation in drama to support the teaching of our RE curriculum and our collective worship. I also endeavour to bring faith stories to life – recreating the story of Diwali through dramas and real forests to creating a langar in the school hall. I have experience of developing a church school vision – ‘striving for excellence in everything we do, working under God’s guidance and endeavouring to enable all to flourish, bear fruit and live well together’.
NE Leicestershire
Liz Mills
Email Liz to book – lmills3@bottesford.leics.sch.uk
Overview
I am presently teaching in two Primary Schools acting as RE coordinator in both as well as being a class teacher in one and teaching and coordinating Music and French and Collective Worship in the other. This involves me working with children and teachers throughout these schools and liaising with the local and wider communities. I firmly believe that RE is at its most exciting, relevant and ‘spiritual’ when it is creative and energised by the needs and gifts of the whole community.
Career Experience
I’ve been teaching for over 30 years both in this country and abroad. When I trained initially as a primary school teacher, I specialised in RE and Music, but have loved teaching all subjects across the curriculum. However, the conundrum of how to teach RE well has been a topic which has always fascinated me. I have carried out two pieces of research into Children’s Spiritual Development, the most recent of these, ‘Growing Together’ focussed particularly on how we might link older and younger generations together to help us all not only with RE and SMSC but also to help us all ‘Grow Together’. Both projects have since been developed into practical resources to support learning in RE, Collective Worship and SMSC in schools. I am busily involved with local and national RE networks and have a burning desire to see how community links might help us all with ‘Spiritual Development’ and RE.
Specialist Expertise
I love to support colleagues whenever they need help with RE, SMSC or Collective Worship, especially with encouraging us all to think about Creative ways to make these meaningful, ‘real’ and powerful for the rest of our lives.
North Leicestershire
Sarah Down
Email Sarah to book – s.down@churchhill-jun.leics.sch.uk
Overview
I am the RE and Collective Worship coordinator at Church Hill CE Junior School in Thurmaston. It is a large 3-form entry key stage 2 school on the outskirts of Leicester City with a diverse multi-cultural catchment. Over the last five years, I have been responsible for developing the RE curriculum and integrating Understanding Christianity, leading staff meetings and associated training as well as supporting staff. Alongside this, as a school, we have worked on developing our Christian vision and promoting our values to integrate within the whole school ethos.
Career Experience
I have been a teacher for the last 14 years and have worked in large schools both in the city and county. Most of my experience is with KS2 having taught in years 3, 4 and 5. Being a R.E. co-ordinator I have attended training events provided for co-ordinators and have used ideas and suggestions in our lessons and collective worship. Prior to teaching, I worked for the local authority child protection service and also as a quality controller in the textile industry. After graduating from university with a textile degree, I also gained a PhD in textiles research.
Specialist Expertise
I enjoy discussing RE and love sharing differing thoughts and ideas both with staff and pupils. I very much enjoy encouraging children to discuss and share their ideas about what they believe! This is what I encourage all to do!
Secondary
Jen Saunders, Tudor Grange Samworth Academy
Email Jen to find out when the group will be running– jsaunders@samworth.tgacademy.org.uk