Welcome to the STARME Festival of Learning 2026!
Date: Friday, May 15, 2026 | Location: The Renfield Centre, Glasgow
Welcome to the only in-person, Scotland-based CLPL opportunity dedicated specifically to teachers of RME, RERC, and RMPS. Today is about celebrating the vital importance of RME in helping young people think critically and highlighting the power of our professional learning communities.
Get ready for an incredible day of pedagogy, research, and connection!
📱 Your One-Stop Shop: The Interactive Programme
To get the absolute most out of today, we highly recommend using our custom Interactive Programme App. It contains everything you need, including full workshop descriptions, speaker bios, and live updates.
👉 Festival of Learning 2026 App 👈
Pro-Tip: Save it to your Home Screen! For quick access all day without needing to open your browser, save the app to your phone:
- Apple/iOS: Tap the ‘Share’ icon (the square with an arrow pointing up) at the bottom of your screen, scroll down, and tap “Add to Home Screen”.
- Android: Tap the three-dot menu icon at the top right of your browser and select “Add to Home screen”.
Schedule Overview
Check the interactive app for your specific workshop room allocations!
| Time | Activity | Location |
| 08:45 | Registration: Refreshments on arrival; meet the exhibitors. | Main Entrance, Milton |
| 09:10 | Opening Remarks: A welcome to the Festival of Learning from STARME | Sanctuary |
| 09:20 | Keynote Speakers: Joe Walker & Stephen Scholes, Education Scotland | Sanctuary |
| 09:50 | Refreshments: Visit the exhibitors and network. | Blythswood, Milton |
| 10:10 | Q & A | Sanctuary |
| 10:40 | CLPL Session 1: Choose from a range of workshops and sessions. | Chapel, Garnethill |
| 11:40 | Teacher Talk | Chapel, Garnethill, Cafe |
| 12:30 | Lunch | Blythswood |
| 13:30 | CLPL Session 2: Choose from a range of workshops and sessions. | Chapel, Garnethill |
| 14:30 | Making Connections: Connect with speakers, colleagues, and friends. | Sanctuary |
| 15:05 | Closing Remarks: A thank you from STARME. | Sanctuary |
Workshops
| Room: Chapel | Room: Garnethill | Room: Cafe | |
| Session 1 | Fiona Moss – The Power of Story | Sarah Blair – More than Just Religion | Orlaith Payne – Mentoring Student Teachers in RMPS |
| Morag Carrie – The World of Movers and Shakers | Ross McMaster – Post Inspection Reflections | ||
| Colin Whittet – Mentoring and the RME/RMPS Curriculum | Amanda Terris – Digital Differentiation Using Google Classroom | ||
| Session 2 | Luca La Monica – Building the Bridge to Higher | Steph Whyte – How to Solve a Problem like RME? | |
| Stephen Scholes & Jennifer Harding-Richards – When curriculum reform feels clear, messy, and everything in between | Sue Thomson – Good Question! – Developing Critical Thinking | ||
| Margery McMahon -Research Led Teaching for RE | Frances Hume – Interfaith Workshops in Schools |
Practical Information
- Wi-Fi: Password: 0ctober2024?! (Note: the first character is a zero!)
- Photography & Filming: We will be capturing the magic of today for our website and social media. If you prefer not to be photographed, simply let one of the STARME team know.
- Get Social: Share your lightbulb moments with us! Use the hashtag #STARME26 and tag us @teachersofrme on X, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, or TikTok.
- Post-Event Resources: Don’t worry about furiously taking notes. All slides, resources, and speaker materials will be available after the event at www.starme.co.uk/fol26.
Venue Map
Our Exhibitors & Partners
Make sure to visit our amazing partners in the marketplace during breaks and lunch!
- Resource Providers: Bright Red Publishing, Glasgow Museums, Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre
- Religion & Worldviews: Culham St Gabriel’s Trust, CVE, Humanist Society Scotland, Interfaith Scotland, Scottish Bible Society
- Teacher Training: University of the Highlands and Islands, St Andrew’s Foundation
- Support Organisations: Centre for Teaching Excellence, SSTA, Salvation Army
After-Event Gathering
The conversations don’t have to stop at the end of the Festival. Join us for a completely informal, post-event gathering at The Griffin pub (just two doors down from the Renfield Centre). No tickets required – just come along to network, debrief, and relax.
A Huge Thank You from the STARME Management Committee and the Festival Organising Team.
Terri Barry, Gillian Dunsmuir, Marilyn Hamilton, Michael Marten, Scott Anderson, Steph Whyte, Kate Ford, John Dunlop, Orlaith Payne and Stuart McKinlay (Festival Lead).