A year has flown by and another Open Evening presented. It was held, this year, on Thursday, 29 September and, as usual, we were kept very busy with a constant flow of parents and Year 6 visitors from nearby primary schools. Again we based our evening on the experience of the five senses in religions. Visitors were invited to experience the sights, sounds, smells, artefacts(touch) and, of course, tastes of religious festivals and practices. Although using similar ideas as previously, this year there was some different and additional input.

On this occasion, three members of the R.E. Department (Miss Voller, Miss Pickett and Mr G. Jones) combined forces to put our display in one room. The basic idea was to give an experience of religious festivals and practices, using all five senses.

For the senses of sight and hearing, there was plenty to observe and listen to. Visitors were challenged to identify which of the six major world religions the sounds and music came from. On the television parents and children could watch and enjoy programmes from the animated TV series.

There was much to see and touch in the artefacts displayed: a wide range of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Sikh artefacts.

As far as smell and taste were concerned, there was the aroma of burning incense, candles and various foods. Of course, the foods were there to be sampled. There were samosas (kindly made by Reema Suchak of Year 10), coconut pyramids and mini cheesecakes(this year made by Year 10 pupils under Miss Voller's guidance and supervision), passover matzos (from Tesco's Kosher section), honey cake and round chollah bread (both from Sainsbury's Kosher foods section). To include Christianity in the food experience this year, Miss Voller was able to find a supply of hot-cross buns.

There was much work exhibited on our wall displays, together with table displays of many of the resources we use. A computer was also set up with access to the R.E. website for visitors to explore.

Click on the pages indicated below to view our photographic record of the evening.