The Effective Teaching of Religious Education

'At a time when many would wish to drive religion out of the public sphere, this balanced book provides a breath of fresh air with its sensible survey of the issues and problems concerning the contemporary teaching of religious education.'

Professor Roger Trigg, The University of Warwick

Revised and updated, Brenda Watson and Penny Thompsons analysis of contemporary religious education retains all its original rigor and insight. It is as important a study now as it was when first published.

Dr Andrew Wright, Kings College, London

Watson and Thompson are well acquainted with the RE classroom and bold enough to confront the complacency of established opinions and habits. Because of this, they have given the RE professional an essential tool.

Dr. Marius Felderhof, The University of Birmingham

The Effective Teaching of Religious Education provides an accessible yet intellectually rigorous resource for all those involved in the teaching of RE in schools today.

Written with the needs of specialist and non-specialist teachers in mind, in both the primary and secondary sectors, it successfully integrates theory and practice, encouraging debate and reflection on a broad range of issues in what is often regarded as a complex and often controversial subject area.

The second edition has been written with the collaboration of a new co-author, Penny Thompson and has been thoroughly updated, revised and extended to include:

• A new chapter on the place of Christianity in RE
• New material on the purpose of RE and on the relationship of RE to other subjects
• A new Appendix on tackling assessment and syllabus requirements
• A new companion website at www.pearsoned.co.uk/watson-thompson including an overview of the use of ICT in RE teaching, web links and practical resources for use in the classroom.

Brenda Watson is the author of several books on education and religion. A former lecturer at Didsbury College of Education, she became Director of the Farmington Institute in Oxford for several years before doing consultancy work.

Penny Thompson taught RE in comprehensive schools on Merseyside in the UK for 15 years.  She has taught at tertiary level, at an independent school and in adult education.  She has written a book on RE and is the author of many articles on the subject.