Candle Conference 2020

Candle Conference 2020

Building on previous successful events, today we hosted another Candle Conference with guest speaker and eminent academic, theologian and philosopher, Dr. Peter Vardy. We also welcomed neighbouring schools Leweston, QEH Bristol, Badminton, Sidcot, Uffculme and Heathfield Community School to join us at the event.

The conference, one of a series running in schools around the UK, is aimed at GCSE students of Religious Studies and Philosophy. This year debates included:

  • The Nature of God
  • Sin and Salvation
  • Life after Death
  • The Sanctity of Life – Abortion and Euthanasia

Mrs Sue Nurse, Head of Theology and Philosophy and Temporary Assistant Headteacher – Teaching & Learning at Sexey’s School said, “It has been a really excellent day, challenging ideas and preconceptions. It is now the fourth 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. The talks were very lively and I’d like to especially congratulate Archie Sykes for taking the mic to give his views on the quality versus sanctity of life debate – he was praised by Dr Vardy for his 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 with Sexey's students

Commenting on the day, Hal Andjel-Davies, a Year 10 boarder at Sexey’s said, “It was a useful day, especially in the afternoon when we got involved in debate. I found the debate on euthanasia and abortion a very difficult one to decide where I stand. We generally concluded that it’s a very personal thing, with so much to take into consideration.”

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