Religious Education
Introduction
"All children need to acquire core knowledge and understanding of the beliefs and practices of the religions and worldviews which not only shape their history and culture but which guide their own development. The modern world needs young people who are sufficiently confident in their own beliefs and values that they can respect the religious and cultural differences of others, and contribute to a cohesive and compassionate society." (Michael Gove, Review of Religious Education by the Religious Education Council , 2013)
Our RE Curriculum
Our curriculum for RE aims to ensure that all pupils:
Know about and understand a range of religions and worldviews, so that they can:
• describe, explain and analyse beliefs and practices, recognising the diversity which exists within and between communities and amongst individuals;
• identify, investigate and respond to questions posed, and responses offered by some of the sources of wisdom found in religions and worldviews;
• appreciate and appraise the nature, significance and impact of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning.
Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and worldviews, so that they can:
• explain reasonably their ideas about how beliefs, practices and forms of expression influence individuals and communities;
• express with increasing discernment their personal reflections and critical responses to questions and teachings about identity, diversity, meaning and value, including ethical issues;
• appreciate and appraise varied dimensions of religion or a worldview.
Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and worldviews, so that they can:
• find out about and investigate key concepts and questions of belonging, meaning, purpose and truth, responding creatively;
• enquire into what enables different individuals and communities to live together respectfully for the wellbeing of all;
• articulate beliefs, values and commitments clearly in order to explain why they may be important in their own and other people’s lives.
RE in the Early Years Foundation Stage
Pupils encounter religions and worldviews through special people, books, times, places and objects and by visiting places of worship. They listen to and talk about stories. Pupils are introduced to subject specific words and use all their senses to explore beliefs, practices and forms of expression. They ask questions and reflect on their own feelings and experiences. They use their imagination and curiosity to develop their appreciation of and wonder at the world in which they live.
RE in Key Stage 1
Pupils continue to develop their knowledge and understanding of religions and worldviews, recognising their local, national and global contexts. They use basic subject specific vocabulary. They are encouraged to raise questions and begin to express their own views in response to the material they learn about and in response to questions about their ideas.
RE in Key Stage 2
Pupils extend their knowledge and understanding of religions and worldviews, recognising their local, national and global contexts. They are introduced to an extended range of sources and subject specific vocabulary. They are encouraged to be curious and to ask increasingly challenging questions about religion, belief, values and human life. Pupils learn to express their own ideas in response to the material they engage with, identifying relevant information, selecting examples and giving reasons to support their ideas and views.
The right of withdrawal from RE
We wish to be an inclusive community but recognise that parents, of course, have the legal right to withdraw their children from Religious Education. We would ask any parent considering this to contact the head teacher to discuss any concerns or anxieties they may have about the policy, provision and practice of religious education. Parents are requested to make alternative RE provision for their child.
Long Term Planning
We teach our RE in topics. RE topics usually last for half a term but some topics can last for longer periods of time.
An overview of our School Curriculum can be found on the Curriculum page of our website. Please look for our Long Term Planning document. Below is the information contained within our Long Term Planning document about our RE Curriculum.
Key Stage 1 topics
Key Stage 2 topics
Knowledge Organisers
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Learning Overviews
Each half term teachers produce Learning Overviews. These give details of everything being taught in a half-term. These Learning Overviews are published on our Class Pages of this website.
Please note, due to our rolling programme of Learning Themes, not every Foundation Subject is taught every half-term. However, be the end of each academic year, all the necessary content will have been covered by each year group.