Religious Education - Beliefs and Values
INTENT
"Religious education, beliefs and values in school form the foundation of understanding that shapes young minds and compassionate hearts. It’s not just about lessons in faith and world religions; it's the embedding of mutual respect, empathy, and an appreciation for the diverse world in which we all live. By doing so, fostering a generation of children that celebrates differences and stands together in shared values, contributing to a world filled with understanding and compassion."
'All state schools...must teach religious education to pupils at every key stage - DfE National Curriculum Framework
Aims
The aim of teaching RE/Beliefs and Values is to ensure that all children:
• Know about and understand a range of religious and non-religious world views
• Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religious and non-religious worldviews
• Gain and deploy skills to engage with different religions so that they can develop skills to question and inquire further about different religions and beliefs responsibly as well as being able to understand how different communities live together equally and respectfully.
- Promote values, including British values
Implementation
Here at Adswood primary school we follow and implement the Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Salford and Manchester agreed syllabus 2022-2027 to plan, deliver and assess the RE curriculum.
Children develop their knowledge and understanding of religious and non-religious worldviews starting in Nursery right through to Year 6. Thoroughout these years, they will explore Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity and secular worldviews. The Agreed Syllabus, which we use, ensures progression of skills and knowledge year on year.
3-5s-EYFS
Children in EYFS will encounter religious and non-religious worldviews through special people, books, times, places and objects and welcoming visitors into school as well as visiting places of worship. They will listen to and talk about stories and will be introduced to subject-specific words and use all their senses to explore beliefs, practices and forms of expression.
Activities children engage in during their nursery and reception years are experiences which provide the building blocks for later development. Starting with things which are familiar to the children and providing lots of hands-on activities and learning are important parts of children's learning at this stage.
5–7s – Key Stage 1
Children in Key Stage 1 will develop their knowledge and understanding of religious and non-religious worldviews, recognising their local, national and global contexts. They will use subject specific vocabulary. They will raise questions and begin to express their own views in response to the contents of their learning. Children will learn about the religion and way of life of Christians, Muslims and Jewish people throughout the year.
7–11s – Key Stage 2
Children throughout Key Stage 2 will extend their knowledge and understanding of religious an dnon-religious worldviews, recognising their local, national and global contexts. They will be introduced to an extended range of sources and subject specific voacabulary. They will be encouraged to be curious and ask increasingly challenging questions about religion, belief, vlaues and human life. They will continue to express their own ideas and give reasons to support these.Children will learn about the religion, culture and beliefs of Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jewish and Humanist people throughout the year as well as Green religion.
Children in Year 5 /6 will have the subject delivered through the Foundation 5 afternoons.
Whole School
As well as following the RE agreed syllabus, our school participates in whole school practical approaches such as ‘our whle school prayer’, daily class 'Collective Reflection', ‘Anti-bullying week’, 'Christians in Schools' workshops,‘termly 'Bible Encounters assembly’, ‘Christmas nativity plays’ as well as arranging school trips to places of worship.
Our main resource however, is our children and our community.
We also welcome visitors to school assemblies from different faiths and backgrounds. These experiences enrich and enhance our children’s learning and understanding.
Impact
Evidence through pupil voice and outcomes in books will show that children can articulate and demonstrate their knowledge of different ways of life and views on faiths and beliefs. Children will be
able to make connections between different religions and notice the core themes running through the different communities. Children will be able to reflect upon their own views as well as the views of
others.
*If you would like to discuss any of the above in more detail or you would liek to withdraw your child from RE, please contact the Headteacher.
