Curridge Primary School

Intent

High quality teaching of Religious Education supports children to better understand their community, the world, and themselves. Studying the religions and beliefs that form contemporary society in the U.K. and around the world is essential in developing an understanding of different cultures and the diversity of human life. R.E. presents children with questions that promote thoughtful discussion and self-reflection. Children learn to debate respectfully, to critically evaluate and to reflect on their own beliefs and values. It promotes children’s spiritual, moral and cultural development, enhancing children’s sense of their own identity and belonging.

Across the school we:

• Value the contribution R.E. makes to a broad and balanced curriculum
• Understand the importance of R.E. in promoting the British Values of Tolerance and Respect for others
• Implement a coherent curriculum which ensures progression and coverage
• Use the teaching of R.E. to promote cohesion across the school community, the local community, the U.K. community and the global community
• Encourage children to show curiosity about other cultures and beliefs, developing their cultural understanding
• Encourage children to reflect on their own experiences, values and beliefs and therefore develop a stronger sense of their own identity and spirituality.
• Encourage children to think deeply and critically reflect, strengthening their capacity to make moral judgements and discern truth and goodness
• Encourage children to consider their responsibilities to their peers, their family, their local community and the wider world

Implementation

In developing our R.E. Curriculum, we followed the advice laid out in the Agreed Syllabus for Pan-Berkshire. It states that the R.E. Curriculum should help children learn both about and from different religions and worldviews.  Children should learn about religions by acquiring knowledge and understanding, and being able to identify differences and commonalities between religions. Children learn from religions by engaging in: self- reflection; the exploration of big ideas (such as the meaning of life); a critical approach to morality and ethics; and an appreciation of diversity.

Across the school we:

• Recognise that Christianity is the principle religion of the U.K. and therefore give more time to studying it than any other religion. Children study Christianity in depth in four out of six years, and cover aspects of Christianity every year.
• Teach each of the six major world religions at least once throughout a child’s time at Curridge Primary School
• Teach discrete R.E. lessons lasting half an hour each week, or the equivalent
• From Year 2 onwards, children study two religions in depth each year. They spend one long term on each religion.
• In Year 1, R.E. lessons focus on developing an understand of key aspects of religion, such as places of worship and core beliefs
• Teach units that are thematic: considering how a range of religious and non-religious communities respond to a given question or theme (such as coming of age, or rituals)
• Teach specialist vocabulary relating to each religion or theme being studied
• Acknowledge secular beliefs alongside religious beliefs, teaching Humanism discreetly as a non- religious worldview
• Use assembly slots to mark major religious festivals spanning the major six world religions
• Use assembly slots to share religious stories from each of the six major world religions
• Have whole school R.E. days where all children take part in learning and activities relating to one religion or event, such as Diwali
• Make links with our local community, arranging visits to places of worship and visits into school from members of religious groups
• Make links with parents who are members of religious communities to share their experiences with classes
• Foster an environment of respect and tolerance, so that children feel comfortable sharing their ideas and experiences
• Give time to discussion and debate, to enable children to formulate their own ideas and learn how to express these
• Encourage children to think critically and deeply by gently challenging their preconceptions
• Emphasize the importance of respecting others’ religious beliefs, whether or not you agree with them
• Consider truth in relation to religion, and develop an understanding that truth is not necessarily the most important factor in religious belief or belonging

Impact

• Children demonstrate knowledge in relation to each of the major six world religions
• Children demonstrate an understanding of religious behaviour and beliefs
• Children are curious about different cultures and their beliefs, practices and moral codes
• Children are respectful of and interested in differences between themselves and others
• Children understand diversity as a positive aspect of a rich and varied community
• Children demonstrate curiosity and thoughtfulness in relation to the fundamental questions of human life
• Children can express their own beliefs and ideas, and give explanations to back these up
• Children can identify the communities or groups they belong to

EYFS

Children in EYFS have discrete R.E. lessons, in line with the rest of the school. These lessons focus on developing an understanding of what religion is. Children will:

• Explore religion in terms of religious figures, stories, celebrations, rituals, and places of worship
• Use their senses, music, art and dance to explore religions and beliefs
• Reflect on their own experiences
• Use imagination and curiosity to develop their appreciation and wonder at the world they live in
• Develop an awareness of the differences and similarities between themselves and others.
• Develop their ability to listen to others, to comment on what they have heard, and to share their own views
• Reflect on right and wrong, and how their behaviour can make other people feel
• Reflect on their own feelings and emotions in given scenarios
• Develop empathy for others
• Use role play and small world play to explore what they have learnt