Richard graduated in 2007 with a degree in Theology. He is now a Religious Studies teacher in a secondary school in Worcester.
How did you get to where you are today?
"I graduated in 2007, and am now about to enter my third year of teaching after completing my PGCE in 2008. I've always been interested in the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics and am now teaching these as part of GCSE Religious Studies at a secondary school in Worcester."
How did studying at the University help prepare you for your career?
"While I was doing my BA in Theology, I tried to focus my assignments towards education, and examined attitudes towards Religious Education among teenagers in three separate schools. In a similar assignment, I dealt with whether or not homosexuality/homophobia could and should be tackled in RE lessons: an issue raised as part of the inspirational ‘Que(e)rying Theology’ module; by far the best module I took in three years at this university (and one at another!) . It has encouraged me to try and disband heterosexism in my career and other surroundings where possible."
"Other modules which have benefitted me in teaching include Christian-Muslim Relations, which gave me the opportunity to explore how Religious Studies can benefit such relations, and Modern Theology, in which I was able to expand my interest in Philosophy through studies on whether suffering disproved the existence of a the God of classical Christian theism."
"Women's Weekly provided a significant and unique insight into feminist religion and the women's movement. With teaching becoming evermore a combination of curriculum and pastoral provision, I have tried to incorporate some of the ideas on and advice discovered in this module into my practice at school as a form tutor, and when teaching some, on occasion, quite controversial and orthodox religious views on women."