Intent
At Newburgh we believe Religious Education should inspire children’s curiosity and interest to explore the relationship between people, their faiths or worldviews and their way of life. Religious Education explores big questions about living, believing and expressing beliefs; it allows us to celebrate the diverse way in which different religious and non-religious groups express their views within British culture and across the world. By understanding others better children can develop respect and tolerance for those whose views may differ from their own.
We want our children to become independent and responsible members of a society who understand and explore big questions about life, to find out what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that they can make sense of religion while reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living.
We provide opportunities for children to learn about world religions and views through the lived experiences of real people sharing their beliefs and ways of life, as they do so exploring and appreciating the diversity within our immediate community, in Britain as a whole and across the wider world.
Through a carefully planned sequence of units from the Warwickshire and Coventry agreed syllabus for Religious Education, teachers challenge preconceptions, provide opportunities for the children to articulate their ideas and opinions clearly (using key vocabulary) and encourage pupils to reflect on the meaning and purpose in life and, ultimately, what it means to be human.
As they move through the school, pupils are encouraged to engage in discussions, participate positively and develop the skills to be able to examine and reflect on a range of questions about spirituality and identity, morality, values and commitments. We want them to know that religious education promotes tolerance and enables pupils to combat prejudice therefore preparing them to be thoughtful members of our diverse and multi-cultural society.
Implementation
RE is taught throughout KS1 and KS2 as a discrete subject but, where possible, we enrich the learning though visits to places of worship and invite visitors, holding both religious and non-religious beliefs, into school. We also enhance children’s understanding of faiths by the use of religious symbols, ornaments and artefacts as appropriate.
RE is taught through weekly lessons or targeted days working on specific units of work. In EYFS RE is often integrated within the Early Years Curriculum rather than taught as a discrete subject.
We follow the Warwickshire and Coventry Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education, SACRE, from which our learning intentions are taken. RE is planned carefully using this syllabus to ensure progression of skills and knowledge across school. Each class follows the units of work, appropriate to their year group, which focus on key questions. They will encounter different religious and non-religious groups and their responses to these questions and throughout the curriculum these different faiths are encountered, explored and revisited. Currently units of work change each half term however the Warwickshire Agreed Syllabus is changing from September ’24 and from then on units of work will change termly.
Impact
Children’s knowledge and skills develop progressively as they move through the school and are assessed and reported to parents in the end of year report. Teacher’s formative assessment judgements are made as they observe pupils working or discussing and, where appropriate, from assessing children’s knowledge and understanding by marking work against learning outcomes. Assessment of each unit can be used to inform future planning and enables teachers to plan for progression, ensuring that the pitch of lessons is well matched to pupils needs and that by the end of each key stage pupils are prepared for the next phase of their RE journey.
It is important that our curriculum equips children with skills, knowledge and values that can be applied more universally and will help prepare them for life as an adult in the wider world, developing tolerance and respect for others whose views may differ from their own.
Class floor or individual RE books, alongside displays and photographs will evidence a broad and balanced RE curriculum, and demonstrate the children’s understanding and curiosity in relation to all worldviews.
Children will be able to express their own beliefs and how these affect their actions; understand others’ beliefs and where their beliefs are drawn from and they will understand how different beliefs determine how people live their lives.
Leaders conduct monitoring activities including work trawls, learning walks and discussions with children.
