Bringing Reconciliation into Primary Schools

My journey with Story Tent began with Scriptural Reasoning, which I first encountered whilst attending a conference for RE teachers organised by the Christian Muslim Forum in 2008. I had been newly appointed as the RE co-ordinator at a community primary school and I was keen to learn as much as I could. I don’t remember learning anything about religious education during my initial teacher training in the 1980s. I didn't have the relevant knowledge to lead in this important subject area.   

I can remember two things really stood out to me that weekend. First, I had little experience of interfaith dialogue, and the conference organisers facilitated valuable opportunities to speak with others about their experience of faith without fear of saying the wrong thing. 

Secondly, I became fascinated by the substantive content and serious academic rigour at the heart of the Scriptural Reasoning encounter. The session I attended had a Christian and Muslim academic from the Cambridge Interfaith Programme unpacking texts from the Bible and the Qur’an through serious hermeneutical presentations and a time for questions afterwards. Difference was at the heart of the debates and understanding was the aim of the encounter; understanding of different worldviews, that in turn led to a deeper understanding of a more personal worldview. I became convinced that it is often at those points of tension that creativity kicks in and new knowledge or insights are birthed.  

I found myself wondering if this was such a valuable experience for me as an adult, would it be possible to replicate the encounter in an age-appropriate way that would be meaningful for pupils within a primary RE lesson? This was where the seed for my PhD - and subsequently Story Tent project - was planted. My own experience and encounters with fellow primary teachers had led me to recognise that there were two fundamental problems facing the RE community: a lack of quality materials easily accessible for use in the classroom; and a lack of confidence in teachers who had received little training in how to teach RE. This was the starting point of the PhD project which was completed in 2019 and now forms the basis for a new pedagogic inquiry-based approach to using sacred texts in primary schools called Story Tent.

Anne with team member Cameron at a conference to discuss Story Tent with primary school teachers.

What is the Story Tent? 

The Story Tent offers easily accessible online teaching materials to support KS2 pupils to learn more about religion and worldviews through the lens of story. It provides resources that develop skills for intercultural and interfaith dialogue through an inquiry-based approach with an exploration of difference at its heart. It is an age-appropriate application of Scriptural Reasoning based on some underlying principles. 

At the heart of Scriptural Reasoning is the concept of the meeting place and shared hospitality where friendships can be built. The space is not owned or inhabited by one group over another; rather it is a space where participants are both host and guest at the same time: a “tent of meeting”. This in-between location becomes an interpretative space where all are welcome, and all voices can be heard. This concept of the tent as a place of meeting was instrumental in the concept behind the development of the Story Tent. 

Scriptural Reasoning brings people of faith together to explore their texts. Anyone can participate as importance is placed on the lived experiences of the participants rather than the official doctrinal position. The aim of the encounter is not agreement or consensus but rather the exploration of interpretation at the faith boundaries. David Ford, one of the creators of SR in the 1990s and Co-Chair of Trustees of the Rose Castle Foundation, suggests that when talking about faith, it is possible to maintain a “mutually critical engagement” to navigate difference and yet maintain authentic faith positions, which neither force assimilation nor end in conflict. This is the approach that is developed through the Story Tent resources.  

Nadiya, also on the Story Tent team, with primary school students.

The Story Bank 

The Story Bank, a key Story Tent resource, has been developed in collaboration with individuals across different religions and worldviews, in collaboration with the LSE Faith Centre. It contains sets of stories that are based around six themes. Each story comes with a set of questions which can be used in teaching contexts and is accompanied by a video clip where pupils can see a person from that religion or worldview reading the story. These materials are designed to be used flexibly by teachers to meet the different demands of diverse school contexts and equip pupils with the confidence they need to live well in our increasingly globalised and diverse societies. 

What next? 

In a world where agendas to divide and fracture communities are present and sometimes pervasive, it is more critical than ever that we equip our children and youth with the tools to encounter cultural, religious and ideological difference in a healthy way that promotes genuine dialogue and understanding. As schools begin to return to a more normal working pattern, we are looking to reach more teachers and communities who might benefit from our Story Bank, as well as extend our resources to offer new opportunities to build interfaith communities of learning.