2017

Preparing for life in Britain today: the contribution of RE

Date: Tuesday May 16th 2017

Venue: York Hilton, 1 Tower Street, York, YO1 9WD

Keynote Speakers

Dr Joyce Miller is Associate Fellow in the Religions and Education Research Unit at the University of Warwick (WRERU). In 2007 she retired as Head of Diversity and Cohesion at Education Bradford, prior to which she was a Senior Lecturer in religious studies at the University of Wolverhampton. Joyce has taught in secondary schools in Coventry and Northumberland. She is a former Chair of the RE Council, AREIAC, Bradford SACRE and the Schools Linking Network.
Joyce is one of the Commissioners recently appointed by the RE Council to review the legal, education and policy frameworks for RE.

Prof Aaqil Ahmed is the only person to have been both BBC and Channel 4 Head of Religion and Ethics. He grew up in the north of England and is a practising Muslim. He is a Professor at the School of Media and Performing Arts, University of Bolton and a Board member of various organisations including Princes Trust mentoring charity, Mosaic. Aaqil has written on the subject of religious literacy, recently delivering contributory chapters to Open Democracy's 'Rethinking the BBC' and Lapido Media's 'Religious literacy for journalists handbook'.
Aaqil explains to modern audiences why religion and ethics are so important in today’s world, and how to present the issues fearlessly but fairly without creating phoney controversy: “The subject matter is so rich, you don’t need to be that foolish and set out to do it. You just need to tell the most important stories that are relevant today.”

Provisional conference programme

11:00 Arrival, registration and coffee
11:30 Welcome and introductions
11:40 Keynote address: Dr Joyce Miller
12:10 Question time
12:45 AGM
13:30 Lunch
14.15 Second Keynote address: Prof Aaqil Ahmed
15:00 Discussions and questions
15:35 Table discussions/panel discussion
16:10 Westhill Awards
16.15 Closing remarks from Chair
16:30 Close of conference

NASACRE Executive Elections

At the AGM we shall be electing a Vice-Chair who will succeed our current Chair in 2 years' time, and up to four other Executive members, each for a three year term of office. We are looking for nominations to work alongside current Exec personnel:
• Membership Secretary
• Communications Officer
• Conference Organiser
• Development Officer
Look out for further information in the next SACRE Briefing, due out in mid-April, but meanwhile SACREs are encouraged to consider who they might nominate. Nominations will close on 5 May.

Download the nomination papers