Join us for a deep dive into the world of Primary RME with researcher and teacher Chantelle Boyle. From her PhD research on teaching moral issues to the practical power of "Dilemma Discussions," Chantelle shares how RME skills can be woven into almost any primary topic, even starting with something as simple as Newsround.

We explore why these "tricky conversations" are vital for young learners and offer practical tips on where to find the best classroom resources.

Note: Please bear with us for the first two minutes of audio; the sound quality improves significantly after the introduction!

For the complete breakdown of this episode, links to Chantelle’s presentations read the full blog post on our website:

https://learningrmps.com/2026/01/27/chantelleboyle/

In this latest episode of the podcast, we are joined by Dr. James Holt from the University of Chester, a dedicated teacher educator and researcher whose work is transforming how we approach Religious Education. This conversation dives deep into the essential—and often challenging—decisions behind selecting which religions to teach and how to represent them with authenticity and depth.

Key highlights from the episode include:

• Beyond the "Sexy" Bits: A critical look at the tendency to focus on "hooks" (like reggae or marijuana in Rastafari) rather than providing a holistic view of a faith's traditions and practices.

• Reflecting the Community: Why using local census data is vital for choosing worldviews that mirror the diversity of our own classrooms.

• The Boundaries of RME: A fascinating debate on "What is RME?"—including whether mythology and ancient religions have a place in the modern curriculum.

• Navigating Non-Religious Views: Exploring the nuance of "The Nones" and how to teach the diversity within non-religious perspectives.

• Resources: From James’s "Understanding" book series to his free CPD resources on Rastafari and the Latter Day Saints, there are countless tools mentioned to help boost your subject knowledge.

There is so much to unpack in this episode, and these notes are just the beginning. To get the full breakdown of the resources mentioned and the pedagogical shifts discussed, be sure to read the detailed notes here: https://learningrmps.com/?p=2870

We would love to keep this conversation going! After you’ve listened or read the notes, please reach out with your thoughts via email at learningrmps@gmail.com.

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This week's podcast, I am delighted to host Ollie Bray, Strategic Director at Education Scotland. Ollie is one of three strategic directors at Education Scotland and has responsibility for curriculum, pedagogy and innovation at Education Scotland.

We talk about the Curriculum Improvement Cycle and the impact that will have on RME in the future.

You can find more information and detailed show notes on my website - https://learningrmps.com/2026/01/09/what-even-is-the-curriculum-improvement-cycle-with-ollie-bray-podcast-notes/If you enjoy this episode and want to follow mroe you can find me on social media @learningrmps or email learningrmps@gmail.com