School Staff & Chaplains Training & Networking

Friday, 8 February 2019, 09:30-15:30

West Lothian Education have arranged a day for School Chaplains and School Staff to explore the journey to excellence in ‘Time for Reflection’ (Religious Observance). Elaine Cook, the Deputy Chief Executive, will also launch West Lothian’s new Time for Reflection/Religious Observance policy at this event.

This seminar is for chaplains and school workers of all denominations, whether currently serving as School chaplains or interested in finding out more. School staff with responsibility for Religious Observance (‘Time for Reflection’) will also find the seminar most useful.

Seminar leader: Rev. Dr. Steve Younger. His doctoral research is on Religious Observance and spiritual development within Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence. A co-opted member of the Church of Scotland’s Education Committee, his resource handbook on school chaplaincy in the non-denominational Scottish school sector was published by Saint Andrew Press on 30th September this year.
Resources for school chaplains will also be available for purchase on the day.

The day will begin at 9:15am in Whitburn Academy assembly hall. School chaplains will have two sessions in the morning and will be joined by staff from all of West Lothian’s Primary and Secondary schools for the afternoon. Every person will receive a Conference Pack with Time for Reflection (TfR) resources courtesy of the McLaren Trust Fund and the Church of Scotland. To book and confirm a place please contact either
Steve Younger (highblantyresteve@outlook.com) or
Agnes Mullen (amullen@cofscotland.org.uk)

Please share this event to colleagues that you think may be interested.

In the morning sessions Chaplains have two sessions:
Session 1  Introducing Christian Values in Education (Scotland) and exploring the context of Curriculum for Excellence, chaplaincy and Time for Reflection.
Session 2  Group work, discussion questions, introduction to resources, examples of good practice, gaining feedback. Questions and discussions will focus around:
• In a word or a sentence, state your theology of school chaplaincy
• How do you judge when a TfR event has been ‘successful’/ ‘unsuccessful’?
• What are the best resources you have found for TfR events in school?
• How do you ensure your TfR events promote the spiritual development of the whole school community?
Session 3 (in the afternoon – for chaplains and school staff) a reminder of the TfR requirements; a vision for TfR; examples of good practice; a Shared Practice Presentation – led by Darren Philip with video input from Williamston PS and West Calder HS.
Session 4 Small group discussions around the following questions
• Map a pathway for joint collaborative working with your chaplain(s) to promote the spiritual wellbeing of your pupils.
• Where do you see your local faith communities fitting in your practice of HGIOS4 partnership?
• What do you think is distinctive about TfR? How do you think TfR differs from RME/Values education/ Citizenship education/etc.?
• Share with your cluster group the most positive experience your school has had of TfR.
• How actively and effectively are the children and young people in your school community involved in the planning, delivery and assessment of your TfR?