Episodes

  • S15 E9: The One About My Barriers To Research
    Jun 20 2025

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    If you are like me and really struggle to engage in and with REsearch, or know someone who does, then listen to this episode. I have left in parts I usually edit out to give you a sense at how vulnerable I was making this episode, and you will here at the end my leg bouncing with nerves. I have ADHD, so I really struggle to read things, remember things and organise new information. Listen to how Culham St Gabriel have helped me overcome my barriers to research and create some research on those barriers. I really hope it inspires you.

    It might also give you an insight into the ADHD minds of your students and explain how the poor behaviour they present is masking an internal struggle they can't articuate.

    If you want to find out more about the Culham St Gabriel Scholarship Leadership programme, then click on the link below.

    https://www.cstg.org.uk/scholarship-programmes/leadership/


    Higher Listenings: Joy for Educators
    A new podcast from Top Hat delivering ideas, relief, and joy to the future of teaching.

    Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

    Support the show

    Find out more;
    Twitter: @TheREPodcast1
    Insta: @TheREPodcast
    Webiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk

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    52 mins
  • S15 E8: The One About Dawn Cox
    Jun 13 2025

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    This year we lost an legend. Words will never be able to capture everything that Dawn was to the RE Community or to her friends and family. But I hope this episode goes some way to pay tribute to the incredible person who was Dawn Cox ,and to say thank you.

    We hear written and spoken tributes from Rachael Jackson Royal, Katie Freeman, Nikki McGee, Claire Clinton, Matt Pitcher, Jen Jenkins, Ruth Marx, Richard Farnyfun, Sue Nurse, Saima Saleh, Alice Thomas and Wendy Dossett.

    And I speak to Roy - he partner of over 20 years about this brutal loss.

    Warning - there are moments of joy and laughter but also moments of sadness and grief.

    We will keep the legacy of Dawn alive in our hearts, minds and classrooms.

    Here is a link to her blog;

    https://missdcoxblog.wordpress.com/

    Text and story in RE;

    https://www.reonline.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Dialog.pdf

    Her books;

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Dawn-Cox/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3ADawn%2BCox

    Her articles;

    https://hwrkmagazine.co.uk/author/dawn-c/

    Applying Rosenshine to RE;

    https://my.chartered.college/early-career-hub/applying-rosenshine-to-religious-education/

    Dealing with diversity;

    https://www.retoday.org.uk/uploads/Publications/REtoday%20magazine/REtoday%20%E2%80%93%20Messy%20religion%20and%20belief/Dealing%20with%20Diversity.pdf

    BBC coverage;

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgp422xljgo

    Higher Listenings: Joy for Educators
    A new podcast from Top Hat delivering ideas, relief, and joy to the future of teaching.

    Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

    Support the show

    Find out more;
    Twitter: @TheREPodcast1
    Insta: @TheREPodcast
    Webiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk

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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Dawn Cox Tribute Advert
    Jun 12 2025

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    This Friday will see the release of a special episode celebrating the life and career of the late Dawn Cox.

    Support the show

    Find out more;
    Twitter: @TheREPodcast1
    Insta: @TheREPodcast
    Webiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk

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    2 mins
  • S15 E7: The One About The Importance Of A-Level RE
    Jun 6 2025

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    Think RE is irrelevant in the 21st Century or think it is only for religious people or can only lead to a career as a vicar or an RE teacher? Think again. RE A-level is dynamic, challenging and essential for life in modern Britain! Just listen and find out.

    If you are a parent of a student who wants to take RE A-level, or a student who is thinking of doing it or are not sure, or you are a school leader who wants to understand the value of RE, then listen up!

    Young people who are training to be Doctors and Barristers, who work in technology and finance and education speak on how important RE A-level has been in their further study and careers.

    To be able to be trained in the art of argument, critical thinking, empathy, out of the box thinking, and much more has enabled them to be successful in a wide variety of careers.

    • I chat to five young people who did RE A-level and we discuss;
    • Why they choose RE and what they liked about it
    • How has RE helped them
    • Whether RE is academic?
    • Whether you need to be religious to do RS
    • Whether you need to have RS GCSE to do RS A-level?
    • What advice they would have for someone thinking of doing RS or about to start it

    I also chat to Dr. Fazilat Dar, Head of Data Science for TfL about why critical thinking and being able to see things from someone elses perspective are essential skills in industry.

    Here are links to the things mentioned in the episode.

    Informed Choices

    https://www.informedchoices.ac.uk/start

    The CBI Scandal

    https://www.thecorporategovernanceinstitute.com/insights/case-studies/the-cbi-scandal-highlights-failure-on-every-level/?srsltid=AfmBOooTe5vr-FtGX5-5q36yGs7lrWb-xXTGwxXJe5_kt6qlSjSUOpZ0

    David Roden

    https://philpeople.org/profiles/david-roden

    Simon Jenkins

    https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/med/staff/sjenkins/

    Wako - David Koresh

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Koresh

    Dunning Kruger effect

    https://www.google.com/search?q=dunning+kruger+effect&sca_esv=b703f1cd0674f892&rlz=1C1CHBF_en-GBGB1101GB1101&sxsrf=AHTn8zqWUAZg47-JSSu3DsRhTnECqw0Jqw%3A1747077462512&ei=VkkiaP-HH-CBhbIP3P7omAM&oq=dunning+kruger+eff&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiEmR1bm5pbmcga3J1Z2VyIGVmZioCCAAyCBAAGIAEGLEDMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAESI0fUJsBWNMQcAF4AZABAJgBWaABlgKqAQE0uAEByAEA-AEBmAIFoALCAsICChAAGLADGNYEGEfCAg0QABiABBiwAxhDGIoFwgIOEAAYsAMY5AIY1gTYAQHCAhMQLhiABBiwAxhDGMgDGIoF2AEBmAMAiAYBkAYRugYGCAEQARgJkgcBNaAH3xayBwE0uAewAg&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

    Higher Listenings: Joy for Educators
    A new podcast from Top Hat delivering ideas, relief, and joy to the future of teaching.

    Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

    Support the show

    Find out more;
    Twitter: @TheREPodcast1
    Insta: @TheREPodcast
    Webiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk

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    1 hr and 31 mins
  • S15 E6: The One About The Scopes Trial
    May 23 2025

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    If you have not ever heard of this trial or it's significance to the RE classroom then don't miss this episode. It underpins our teaching of fundamentalism, science and religion, diversity of worldviews and curriculum freedom. It also shines a light on global issues and polarisation.

    As we approach the 100 year anniversary of this trial (10th July 1925) listen to Ruth Marx speak passionately about John Scope!

    Here are the many links to things referenced in the episode

    Charter for compassion

    https://charterforcompassion.org/

    Dawn Cox' blog

    https://missdcoxblog.wordpress.com/

    Sarah Silverman - we are all human and deserve love (warning, some people might find this language and humour offensive)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahdR6aHQvMQ

    Karen Armstrongs ted talk on charter for compassion

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJMm4RAwVLo

    Smithsonian Institution Archives

    The Leopold And Loeb Trial: An Account

    Big Ideas lesson plan and resources on the Scope trial (monkey trial)

    C11-14-BI6-ex2-v1.docx


    Higher Listenings: Joy for Educators
    A new podcast from Top Hat delivering ideas, relief, and joy to the future of teaching.

    Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

    Support the show

    Find out more;
    Twitter: @TheREPodcast1
    Insta: @TheREPodcast
    Webiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk

    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • S15 E5: The One About Oak National Academy
    May 16 2025

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    In 2020 while the world went on lockdown, something incredible emerged to support us teaching remotely - Oak National Academy. Teachers from all over the country created online lessons along with videos which students could watch, pause, re-watch and learn. These were lessons created by teachers for teachers for all Key Stages for all subjects. When the world went back to normal, Oak National continued and teachers realised how perfect these lessons were for cover, CPD and revision. Five years later, Oak National is going from strength to strength; aiming to have an all through curriculum based on the latest educational research which can support teachers everyday.

    Adam Robertson has been leading the team to develop the Oak Curriculum for RE and together they have created a worldclass, worldview curriculum which is my go to for cover and CPD for Teacher With Other Specialisms. I have also been priviledged to be part of the team developing these lessons and I know how merticuluously they are planned to ensure they are fit for purpose in the 21st Century. In this episode Adam joins me for a behind the scenes look at how Oak works.

    https://www.thenational.academy/teachers/curriculum/religious-education-secondary-aqa/units

    Higher Listenings: Joy for Educators
    A new podcast from Top Hat delivering ideas, relief, and joy to the future of teaching.

    Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

    Support the show

    Find out more;
    Twitter: @TheREPodcast1
    Insta: @TheREPodcast
    Webiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk

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    38 mins
  • S15 E4: The One About Criminology
    May 9 2025

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    Calling all teachers of Religion, Crime and Punishment. This weeks guest is Dr. Evelyn Svingen who's specialist subject is criminology. We discussion reasons for crime, aims of punishment, types of punishment, the history of punishment, the death penalty, women in prison, and the relationship between foriveness and retribution.

    Evelyn mentioned lots of amazing resources to explore;

    I was almost a school shooter: Ted Talk

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azRl1dI-Cts

    Gagaca Courts, Rwanda

    https://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide/rwanda/assets/pdf/Backgrounder%20Justice%202014.pdf

    The innocence Project

    https://innocenceproject.org/

    When they see us documentary

    https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80200549

    Elizabeth Loftus, False memories Ted Talk

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB2OegI6wvI

    Higher Listenings: Joy for Educators
    A new podcast from Top Hat delivering ideas, relief, and joy to the future of teaching.

    Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

    Support the show

    Find out more;
    Twitter: @TheREPodcast1
    Insta: @TheREPodcast
    Webiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk

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    1 hr and 41 mins
  • S15 E3: The One About Metaphysics
    May 2 2025

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    I LOVED this chat with Dr. Martin Pickup so much. He is an associate professor in Philosophy at the University of Birmingham and Director of the Birmingham Centre for Philosophy of Religion. His particular specialism is metaphysics and the Philosophy of Religion so we had a lovely chat about these two things; specifically What metaphysics, how it's changed over time and how this has impacted philosophy of religion. We discuss analytic theology, Leibniz and the Principle of Sufficient Reason, the Ontological Argument and look to the future of metaphysics.

    Martin also tells about a new project he is working on - a global philosophy of religions project!

    If you teach Philosophy or Religious Studies A-level then I think you will find this chat really helpful. It is also really accessible so your A-level students might find it useful too!

    Higher Listenings: Joy for Educators
    A new podcast from Top Hat delivering ideas, relief, and joy to the future of teaching.

    Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

    Support the show

    Find out more;
    Twitter: @TheREPodcast1
    Insta: @TheREPodcast
    Webiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk

    Show More Show Less
    57 mins