A leading College Lecturer was selected to join a debate on Religious Education in the City. 

Chris Eyre, Curriculum Manager for Humanities at the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College and Principal Examiner in Religious Studies spoke at a full morning debate with Council Leaders, MPs, National Religious Education Advisors and Religious Education Students from across six city centre schools.  

The Stoke-on-Trent Standing Advisory Council in Religious Education (SACRE) Youth Debate took place in a Council Chamber with 50 students taking part in total from Excel Academy, Ormiston Horizon Academy, Co-op Academy, St Peter’s, St Joseph’s College and Stoke College. 

The Schools were provided with three key discussion topics relating to the necessity and importance of Religious Education in schools, and prepared responses to either agree or disagree with the statement in question. Each topic was allocated a 20-minute window for students to debate against each other setting out a basis for their arguments.

Chris Eyre, of the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College and Youth Debate Panel Member commented on the event, “It has been fantastic to join such an informed debate with students. 

“It’s so impressive to see how passionate the students are about the role Religious Education and its curriculum plays in schools and society.

“Religious Education is such an all-encompassing area, that combines Philosophy, Theology and Ethics and allows students to consider the bigger questions. Today was the perfect setting for students to really showcase these skills.”

Chris joined special guests at the debate including Council Leader Abi Brown, National Religious Education Advisor Fiona Moss and Stoke-on-Trent North MP Jonathon Gullis who each in turn delivered talks around Religious Education and the key role it plays in society. 

Following the success of the debate, Chris Eyre was also featured on BBC Radio Stoke’s Sunday Breakfast Show from at 8:30am where he discussed the work of SACRE and the benefits of studying Religious Education. You can catch the full interview at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0824fl4 from 1 hour 43 minutes in.