Sixth Form RS Conference

July 2009

On Thursday 2nd July the whole of the Grey Coat Sixth Form attended the annual RS conference. The theme of the conference was, ‘Smashing the Image’; its aim to focus on the concept of religious identity and the extent to which beliefs and practices are fundamental to religions.

The day began with a key note address given by Dr. Helen-Ann Hartley, (Lecturer in New Testament, Ripon College, Oxford) on how the first Christians shaped their identity in a Roman and Jewish world. 

Sister Gina SSF (an Anglican Franciscan) talked about the life of the religious and the challenges and rewards of taking religious orders. Shazia Mirza (a female Muslim comedian) did a set that raised and confronted religious and racial stereotypes (as well as those about RS teachers!). Students were given the opportunity to pose questions to both speakers after their sessions. In the afternoon, a number of year 12 students delivered workshops based around the conference theme.