Religious Education

Intent

In RE our intent is to provide high quality learning experiences that allow our children to explore and reflect on their own lives, the lives of others and those in the wider world.  It will promote the spiritual, moral, cultural and mental development of our children and help to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.  Within RE pupils will have rich opportunities to explore and develop their understanding of a wide range of world views, both religions and non-religious.  We aim to provide a safe environment where our children feel able to discuss their views and ideas openly and one that allows them to question their own and others beliefs with respect and understanding.  We will provide a curriculum that reflects breath and balance and one that allows our children to express their ideas in a variety of ways, thus ensuring there are no barriers to learning in RE and that all our children are enabled to achieve to the best of their abilities. Where possible we want our pupils to have opportunities to encounter local faith communities through visits to local places of worship or visits from members of local faith communities to the school.

Implementation

For teaching and learning within RE we follow the criteria set within the Dorset Agreed Syllabus.  At least 5% of curriculum time is dedicated to explicitly meeting RE objectives, although the subject may also be taught across the curriculum when appropriate. Within this teaching allocation, at least two thirds of subject content is used to explore the Christian faith, and the concepts, beliefs, teachings and practices that lie at its heart.

To ensure continuity within planning and assessment we use the ‘Understanding Christianity’ Scheme of work’ alongside the ‘Emmanual project’.

In the Foundation Stage the children are taught in line with the Early Years Framework. They study Christianity along with looking at other world faiths and views.  At KS 1 pupils study Christianity, Judaism and Islam, along with looking at other world faiths and views.  At KS 2 pupils study Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Islam, along with looking at other world faiths and views.  Knowledge is built throughout the key stages, so that there is a clear progression of knowledge and skills.

We also ensure that opportunities for further learning are fully explored through ‘special’ RE days, festival celebrations and links to worship and our school values.

R.E. is taught as a discrete subject. The overview below maps out the units of work taught for 2023-24.

Shillingstone – RE planning cycle 24-25

Impact

Through our RE curriculum, our children develop their own beliefs, ideas and attitudes while respecting the right of others to hold beliefs different from their own.  This helps them to become global citizens, to celebrate diversity and to practise our core values.  Our children are able to reflect on and compare their own experiences and to explore some ‘big’ questions related to different religions. They also show that they are confident to explore their own spirituality, open their own minds and be curious.

Our most recent SIAMS inspection (Nov 22) reflected the positive impact RE has on our pupils.

“Religious education (RE) has a good profile in school life. New initiatives ensure pupils enjoy and are challenged, recognising the subject’s relevance.”

“New approaches engage pupils in learning which they enjoy. Questions of meaning and purpose are increasingly discussed in depth where pupils learn from one another and how to disagree well. More pupils are confident to undertake questions which involve them working at greater depth.”

“Vulnerable pupils are well supported.”

Pupil Voice

This is what our pupils think about RE in our school;

“There is no way we can prove any of these are correct or wrong.  The important thing is we all get along and respect everyone’s opinions.’’ “No matter what religion you can still be friends.”

“I felt happy I could show everyone my feelings of God….I hoped people would know how I felt about God.  After the presentation I didn’t change my religion.”