Building on previous successful events, today we hosted another Candle Conference with guest speaker and eminent academic, theologian and philosopher, Dr. Peter Vardy. We welcomed neighbouring schools Leweston, QEH Bristol, Badminton, Colyton Grammar and Ilfracombe Academy to join us at the event, who all braved the imminent threat of snow to join us.

The conference, one of a series running in schools around the UK, is aimed at GCSE students of Religious Studies and Philosophy. This year the theme of the day was ‘Creation’, with debates ranging from:

• Environmental ethics based on the text of Genesis
• Sanctity of Life versus Quality of Life
• Euthanasia and Abortion debates
• Ideas of the soul

Mrs Sue Nurse, Head of Theology and Philosophy at Sexey’s School said, “It has been a really excellent day, challenging ideas and preconceptions. It is now the third year that we have run this conference with Dr Vardy and as usual, it was extremely inspiring and topical – a great way of contextualising our GCSE students’ studies. Debate was very lively and I’d like to especially congratulate Daniella Lomotey for taking the mic – she was praised by Dr Vardy for her eloquence. On behalf of all of the staff and pupils that attended the conference, I would like to thank Dr. Vardy and his team for taking the time to speak to us.”

Dr. Peter Vardy is one of the leading experts in religion and values education in the UK and has consulted to senior politicians, including Baroness Mary Warnock, former Chancellor Alistair Darling, Lord David Alton and former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Paddy Ashdown, on the importance of religious education and philosophy and ethics.

Peter Vardy can also be followed on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/puzzlevardy