A competition for schoolsWinning pupils will receive a small prize and

their work will be published in the new Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton RE

syllabus

Devised by Lat Blaylock, consultant to the SACREs

Religious education is for all children and young people in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton – Muslims and Christians, Hindus or Atheists, everyone is included.

Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton council will make a new RE syllabus for 2011. We are asking schools to get children involved in designing an image for the cover of the syllabus .

Send up to 8 entries to the competition to Jane Chipperton by March 28th 2011.

Winners will be invited to the launch, and their work will be used to illustrate the syllabus.

A winning design will be beautifully made – drawn, painted or in some other media.

It will show that RE is important, and is for all children. It will show that RE can be enjoyable and interesting.

Here are some examples from a competition held in other parts of the country – don’t copy them, but see if they give you some ideas of your own.

Write a paragraph to explain why your design is a winner – and put your name, school and age on the back of you picture.

This student shows all the main six religions in a jigsaw. Each one is different, and each one is linked to the others. Why might this be a good symbol for RE?

The idea in this example is that people who are different can share the world and live together. RE is meant to help people to respect each other. Do you think this is a winner?

Jo, 14

This girl has made a satin cushion. She chose the saying ‘develop love, scatter love, reap love. No religion is higher than that’ It emphasises the idea that all humans need to learn to love each other. Is it better than the others?

Asma, 14

This seven year old boy has made a picture of his own spirit – he says he is sometimes excited, sometimes messy, sometimes moody, but always active and keeps moving. RE is about your own spiritual side as well as about the different religions.

Conor, 7

“In this idea, all the different religions light up the world and make it possible for everyone to see clearly. RE is supposed to make us see religions clearly.”

This image of her spirit, by Kate, 13, shows that you can’t always see a person’s spiritual side. Even when we look ordinary on the outside, our spirits can be lively, exciting and burning with life.

What picture would you make, to show that RE helps people to get in touch with their spiritual side?

This lovely image of a sunset was collaged by a 7 year old. He says it is his idea of peace. Does RE help people to find peace and live in peace together?

David, 7

Think and talk about the 7 examples you have seen. Which one would you choose to be a winner, and go on the cover of an RE syllabus? Why?

Then design your own entry to the competition. Make it as beautiful, interesting, respectful and wonderful as you can.

If you win, it will be published!

Diocesan Office 41 Holywell Hill

St. Albans AL1 1HE

Closing date 28th March 2011