We are thrilled to welcome Morag Carrie from Beeslack High School to the line-up! Morag will be presenting her innovative project designed to weave literacy and RME together through the study of ‘Movers and Shakers.’ If you are looking for ways to increase personalisation and choice in your classroom while maintaining clear links to Read more
We are delighted to welcome Colin Whittet from The Salvation Army to the Festival of Learning line-up. As a key voice behind the Starfish mentoring program, Colin understands the unique pressures of the modern classroom, from Early Level all the way to Level 4. He joins us to share how one-to-one mentoring can become a natural Read more
We are delighted to have Sue Thomson, from the Scottish Bible Society back at the Festival of Learning. This is her third year presenting and her sessions always are very well received with great tips that you can take straight back to the classroom. Both Primary and Secondary RME. What Read more
STARME is looking for teachers and other practitioners (school leaders, researchers, community groups) doing something interesting relating to Religious Education in the early learning, primary or secondary sector and who would like to share their practice with others via an in-person session at our annual Festival of Learning event. Our Read more
The Christmas Conundrum: An RMPS Escape Room Looking for a festive end-of-term activity? STARME member Sarah Blair shares a new downloadable escape room! Students are recruited by the North Pole Council to solve clues, unlock Santa’s Workshop, and recover the “Key of Kindness.” Perfect for RMPS classes, this ready-to-use PowerPoint comes complete with solutions and teacher notes.
STARME member Gillian Dunsmuir is currently undertaking a Farmington Institute Research Scholarship with a focus on ‘Raising Attainment and Closing the Gap in Senior Phase RMPS’. Expanding on her insights from the Festival of Learning, Gillian aims to produce a practical Teacher Toolkit based on effective learning and teaching approaches in RMPS classrooms across Scotland. To make this a valuable, national resource, she would love to hear from as many colleagues as possible! Share your effective strategies and good practice via the survey below. All strategies shared will be fully credited. The survey is accepting responses until the 12th of December.
Following from her session at the Festival of Learning, Fiona Moss, Culham St Gabriels, will be sharing more about Religion and World View approach to RME. This will be an interesting session to consider and understand expecially in a time of curriculum change.
At a recent Festival of Learning, Ollie Bray, the strategic director at Education Scotland, delivered a keynote address on the Curriculum Review Cycle and its specific implications for Religious and Moral Education (RME). He emphasized that RME’s position as one of the eight distinct curricular areas is secure and it will not be merged into other faculties like social subjects or humanities. Bray highlighted the unique and vital role RME plays in challenging students to think critically, engage with complex debates, and navigate unfamiliar intellectual contexts. The keynote served as a strong reaffirmation of RME’s importance in developing critically aware young people, noting that RME teachers have been actively involved in the curriculum review consultation process since May 2023.
STARME invites educators and practitioners in Religious Education to present at the Festival of Learning on 2 May 2025, at the University of Edinburgh. Interested individuals should submit a form by 14 March 2025, proposing their session and its significance. Presenters enjoy free admission and must attend in person.