An 18th century cottage which was the boyhood home of Francis Asbury, the first American Methodist Bishop. Asbury is virtually unknown in Britain but has his own statue on the Capitol in Washington. He is considered important in the founding of an independent American nation.
Religious Education
Religious Education
Religious education in the UK is a prime subject in secular schools, as well as church schools. Christian beliefs, doctrines and rituals are central, but teaching about other religions is also part of the syllabus, as well as reference to not having a religion at all. And some schools are allowed to teach other religions as their prime object – Judaism, Islam, Hinduism being examples.
The teaching of Religious Education can benefit from a variety of different experiences outside the classroom. Each religion has its own traditions and schools will have their own needs and wants in terms of relating each religion to the other. Teachers should be aware that religion and particularly places of worship can be sensitive and taking a large group of noisy children into such an environment will take plenty of forethought and planning.
Some ideas and tips for planning such trips include...
Before you go:
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Make initial contact: find out if you can visit and when is the best time – both for you and the faith community concerned.
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Preliminary visit: Try to visit the faith community yourself to explore learning opportunities and to discuss your needs with the person who will be involved in the visit. Share with him/her what you hope pupils will get out of the visit. Clearly planned aims help to fit the visit into a scheme of work. A general ‘look around’ is the least likely activity to be successful. If possible try to arrange for the pupils to meet some believers other than the ordained leaders. Talk about how long you will stay. As a rule of thumb, under an hour is usually too short to make the most of the learning opportunity.
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Get parental permission: Schools should send a letter home with each pupil to make clear that this is an educational visit and that pupils will observe, not participate, in worship. Invite parents and other adults to help out on the visit.
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Prepare pupils: It is likely to be a completely new situation for them. Provide guidance about appropriate attitudes and any dress requirements such as removing shoes, covering heads. Encourage pupils to ask and respond to questions during the visit. Talk over, in advance, questions they may wish to ask during the visit. Identify ways in which the visit will be followed up back in the classroom.
Some key points to remember when visiting faith communities:
- Dress: in addition to any specific requirements, modest dress is the usual guideline. Shoes are removed before entering the prayer rooms of the Mosque, Mandir, Gurdwara and Buddhist Vihara. Check specific requirements when organising the visit – the following are the usual practice: Mosque: Female: Head, legs, arms covered. Male: Heads covered during prayer time. Gurdwara: Female: Head and legs covered. Male: Head covering. No cigarettes to be taken into the Gurdwara.
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Photographs: many places of worship will allow photographs to be taken at the appropriate time but prior permission should be sought.
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Behaviour: normal good behaviour standards are appropriate. In all places of worship it would be disrespectful to chew, talk loudly, run around or touch things without invitation. In places where sitting on a carpeted floor is usual, it is disrespectful to sit with legs open facing the focal point e.g. a deity, a holy book, Qibla wall etc.
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Hospitality: a number of places of worship will show hospitality to visitors by offering food or refreshment. It is important to prepare pupils for this: Hindu: prashad – this may take the form of crystal sugar, almonds, sweets or snack food. It is not sacred and should be accepted with thanks and eaten on the spot. Gurdwara: Kara prashad – a semi-solid cold food made from butter, semolina, sugar and milk, or a cup of tea boiled with milk. This is not a sacred food and should be accepted with thanks. Kara prashad can be kept for eating later.
- Donations: places of worship do not, as a rule, charge for visits, but a donation is recommended.
It is possible to arrange visits to local churches, chapels, mosques, temples and synagogues. Most of the cathedrals have education or visitor centres and resources for schools which can be viewed on their websites.
Main organisations:
The Religious Education Council
National Association of Teachers of Religious Education
Inclusion: NASEN
Thought of visiting?
Venues for this Curriculum
The history of Birkenhead goes back beyond Victorian years. The oldest standing building on Merseyside, Birkenhead Priory encapsulates so much of the town's history within a small, enclosed site. Founded in 1150, the monks of this Benedictine monastery looked after travellers for nearly 400 years and supervised the first regulated 'Ferry 'cross the Mersey'.
A family home for 500 years
Situated on a plateau above the gorge of the River Severn, this fine stone house has mullioned and transomed windows, a stunning interior with carved oak staircase and decorated plaster ceilings and oak panelling.
Burial site dating to 3,000 BC
Cairnpapple was used from about 3,000 BC to 1400 BC firstly as a ceremonial site then several centuries later as a burial site.
Cairnpapple Hill is located 5km north of Bathgate, 2km from Torphichen.
Highlights
Why not pop along and see this stunning building which tells the story of its former residents.
From the Cluniac Monks in the 13th Century to the Victorian Scratton family, the last people to live in this wonderful home.
Travel back in time and meet the past at beautiful Michelham Priory
England’s longest water filled moat surrounds the site which dates back to 1229.
Explore Michelham’s fascinating 800 year history, from its foundation by Augustinian canons, through the destruction caused by the dissolution of the monasteries in Tudor times and into its later life as a country house.
Exceptional Tours, Expertly Delivered
When you choose WST to plan your school tour you’re choosing to travel with the experts. With over 300 combined years of experience, our 2013/14 brochure is packed with tours linked directly to the subjects, study themes and learning outcomes from the National Curriculum, but more than that, our Tour Consultants have an in-depth knowledge of your subject and your chosen destination.
The Old Baptist Chapel is another gem in Tewkesbury’s crown. The chapel, situated on Church Street, started life in the 15th century as a three bay hall house and was later adapted for worship. It is one of the oldest Baptist churches in Britain. The Baptist movement was started by two English men, John Smyth and Thomas Helwys, in Holland in 1609.
NST is the UK's leading school tours, school trips and educational travel company for primary schools, secondary schools and colleges.
Since 1967 we've been creating expertly planned school tours - helping groups get more from their time away... Take a Learning Journey.
Curriculum-linked school trips
FHT Travel Ltd provides a knowledgeable and professional student group travel services, with bespoke visits based on each institute’s subject specialism needs and offering great value for money. Whilst away, a full and varied programme can be arranged, giving students the ideal opportunity to enhance their studies away from the institute.
ABTA and ATOL Bonded
Adaptable Travel provides innovative educational tours for thousands of passengers each academic year from schools, colleges and universities. We pride ourselves on offering unique, safe and low-cost school trips and study tours.
School trips and study tours abroad
Halsbury Travel will work with you to create a tailor made trip that will inspire your pupils and bring your subject to life.
Established in 1986, Halsbury Travel is a friendly, family-run school tour operator. With several former teachers in our midst, we understand from first-hand experience the pressures on teachers when organising school trips.
Lichfield Cathedral offers excellence in learning outside the classroom, for which we hold both the Heritage Education Trust’s prestigious Sandford Award and Ofsted’s Learning Outside the Classroom badge.
St John's Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Portsmouth. It was opened in 1882 and is the first cathedral to have been built in Portsmouth.
Leeds Cathedral is one of the finest Catholic Cathedrals in England.
Saint Anne's Cathedral is situated in the heart of the Leeds city centre and contrasts with the surrounding new office blocks and the Victorian Town Hall.
Manchester Cathedral is a rich educational resource in the heart of a vibrant city. Learning is brought to life in this vivid, historic and spiritual context where Christian worship has taken place for over 1000 years. Come and discover the potential of this amazing living building!
Since the building of the Cathedral was commenced in 1840, thirteen primates, including seven cardinals, have each contributed in his own way to its history.Its commanding site overlooking the City gives it an enduring presence, a reminder to each generation of the sacrifices of those who have gone before.The now restored building is a further realisation
We are an Outdoor Centre that has been running for over 30 years set up to provide great activities in a friendly environment, staffed by Christians but available to all.
We have accommodation for up to 50 young people and only host one group at a time.
A small early Bronze Age stone circle traditionally believed to depict nine ladies turned to stone as a penalty for dancing on Sunday. It is part of a complex of prehistoric circles and standing stones on Stanton Moor.
The Inniskillings Museum is situated in the 15th Century Keep and 18th century Military outbuildings of Enniskillen Castle. The Museum tells the story of the town of Enniskillen's two regiments - the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards and the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
A 'cemetery' of 44 Bronze Age burial mounds of varying types and sizes, straddling the A35 main road.
Fermanagh County Museum is a registered museum, under the MLA Accreditation Scheme for museums. The museum is located within and around the historic Enniskillen Castle and was established in 1976 by Fermanagh District Council. The museum collections reflect Fermanagh's history, culture and environment.
With its majestic Norman nave and glorious 13th century chapter house, this is a great little stop to get the kids' imaginations going.
It's what you wish to make of it, but a valuable stop whether taken as educational, religious or whimsical.
Small roofless chapel, established early in the twelfth century.
This is an unstaffed open site, so there's no booking required!
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British schoolgirl assaulted on school trip to Iceland
A viral video shows a black girl being assaulted by a white woman in a corridor.
Police in Iceland are investigating after a British schoolgirl was slapped and chased by a tour guide in a hotel corridor.
The schoolgirl, 13, who attended Harris Girls’ Academy, was assaulted whilst on a school trip to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. The incident occurred at Hotel Örk, Hveragerdi on 13th October.