We've had some changes to our team! Sharon now heads us up as our Charity Director, as well as Lead Teacher. We have also welcomed Sian as our new Primary Teacher, leading EYFS and KS1.
We hope all teachers and students have started the term well and we can't wait to come into lots of schools in 24/25!
It was lovely to see some of our supporters for our coffee morning today, and a great ending to the term. We wish all teachers and school staff a restful summer break; they do such a wonderful job for children and young people. We can’t wait to get back into schools in September with some of our popular lessons, as well as some new ones.
We had a wonderful evening at our Thanksgiving Service, giving thanks for all that God has done through Encounter Christianity this year- for all the schools we have the privilege of visiting and for all of the people who are involved.
Map of the schools we visit!
We have just launched a new workshop on the difference faith makes in the life of a believer, covering the content of Edexcel Paper 3: Study of Religion- Christianity. It is interactive, and includes a lot of personal experience and illustrations to answer the question: ‘I’m a Christian, so what?’
We delivered this lesson for the first time at a new school. The students were brilliant and we were thrilled with the feedback from the class teacher: "You brought the theory and faith to life with your personal testimonies and dynamic presentation."
We are thrilled to have Chloe back with us! She and her family welcomed baby Elijah in December and she returned to us last week. Her first lesson was one of our many on the Trinity. Chloe is excited to get back into schools in Term 6 and already has lots of ideas for new lessons.
We have just launched a new workshop in conjunction with our history colleagues in sixth forms. With exam season upon us, we were thrilled to run our new A Level session on the English Reformation in a local sixth form, covering the whole AQA A-level History specification on Religious Conflict and the Church in England, c1529–c1570.
With stimuli drawn locally from Bristol, the workshop is interactive, hands on, and includes a lot of group work. The Head of Humanities said: "It was well thought through and brilliantly resourced…Students commented on how valuable it was.”
The workshop can be done as either one 2 hour session or two 1 hour sessions.
We have some big changes for the new term. We are so sad to have said goodbye to the wonderful Jess Wilson, who has started a new adventure in Birmingham. We wish her all the very best!
Jess and Sharon teaching a secondary lesson about Jesus as an inspiring figure.
Sharon is now our Charity Director and Lead Teacher and we are excited to see what this new chapter for EC will bring!
We’d like to formally welcome our new KS3 and KS4 lead teacher to the team;
Jess Ottaway
Jess studied Theology at the University of Birmingham before completing her PGCE in RE. She taught for 12 years in secondary schools in Kidderminster, Devon and Bristol, as well as 6 months teaching in India. She is actively involved with her church in Stoke Gifford, especially with the Kintsugi Hope ministry. Jess has two energetic daughters and loves to dance.
The EC team were invited to lead a part of the all age service on Sunday, at St Paul’s church in Southville, on the theme of ‘teach one another’. We were so encouraged to connect with the community there and talk about the work we do in schools. We also led an interactive time on how as Christians we each have something to teach one another about God, the key is to spend time in the message about Jesus. You can see the creativity that emerged from these activities in the photos below.
We would love to connect with more churches and have now created an all age interactive resource we’d be happy to come and use in your church, so if you are a church leader reading this, get in touch.
“Thanks again for everything you and your team did for all our Key Stage 2 classes. It has had a huge impact and left a lasting impression on them.
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