The aim of our Religious Education curriculum is to help children to acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and the other principal religions represented in Great Britain; to appreciate the way that religious beliefs shape life and our behaviour, develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues and enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Within Religious Education our school vision, ‘Nurturing hearts, inspiring minds’ is developed by allowing pupils to critically reflect upon, evaluate and apply their learning to their growing understanding of religion and belief (particularly Christianity), of themselves, the world and human experience. For example, asking challenging questions, looking for transformation, respecting views and opinions of others, celebrating differences and emphasising tolerance.
IMPLEMENTATION:
The scheme has the following three strands running through it:
✔ Substantive knowledge (conceptual and worldviews related).
✔ Disciplinary knowledge.
✔ Personal knowledge
These strands are interwoven across all units to create lessons that build children’s conceptual knowledge and understanding of religion and worldviews (substantive knowledge) and use a range of disciplinary lenses. Children will also be equipped to explore and express their preconceptions, personal worldviews and positionality (personal knowledge) through varied and engaging learning experiences.
Children begin to develop their awareness of religion and worldviews in Key Stage 1, focusing on conceptual knowledge through the study of a limited range of religions and worldviews represented in the UK, including Christianity. This will support children in building knowledge they can refer to throughout their learning in Key 2tage 2 while encountering a greater range of religions and worldviews and considering further the diverse nature of religious and non-religious lived experience.
Each unit includes overarching ‘big questions’ which will be revisited throughout Key Stage 1, lower Key Stage 2 and upper Key Stage 2, allowing children to apply the breadth and depth of their learning across various concepts. These ‘big questions’ are:
- Why are we here?
- Why do worldviews change?
- What is religion?
- How can worldviews be expressed?
- How do worldviews affect our daily lives?
- How can we live together in harmony if we have different worldviews?
Lessons are designed to be varied, engaging and hands-on, allowing children to learn and record their thoughts, answers and ideas in various ways. In each lesson, children will participate in activities involving disciplinary and substantive concepts, developing their knowledge and understanding of diverse religions and worldviews
This curriculum emphasises the importance of diverse representations within and across religions and worldviews, focusing on real people’s lived experiences of their beliefs.
IMPACT:
The school aims to inspire children to live their lives by the Christian values.
The children at All Saints Primary enjoying learning lots about other religions and why people choose, or choose not to follow a religion. Through their R.E. learning, the children are able to make links between their own lives and those of others in their community and in the wider world. R.E. acts as a hub, therefore, between social aspects of learning, science and geography. Through R.E. our children are developing an understanding of other people’s cultures and ways of life, so they can respect the differences they come across.
The expected impact is that children will:
● Know and understand religious concepts relating to beliefs, practices, community and belonging, and wisdom and guidance.
● Develop an understanding of the influence of organised and personal worldviews on individuals, communities, countries and globally.
● Understand some of the ways religions and worldviews are studied (disciplinary knowledge).
● Develop understanding of their relationship with the content studied, being able to talk about their assumptions and preconceptions (personal knowledge).
● Build secure vocabulary which allows them to talk confidently and fluently about their learning.
● Answer questions about worldviews through an enquiry-based approach including investigating, interpreting, evaluating, applying and expressing.
● Talk about the similarities and differences between their own and others beliefs with respect and open mindedness.
● Understand the lived experiences of religious and non-religious worldviews to be diverse within and between people and communities.
● Develop an understanding of the ways in which personal and organised worldviews may develop and change across time and place.
SMSC
(to be developed in all lessons)
Spiritual: Explore beliefs and experience; respect faiths, feelings and values; enjoy learning about oneself, others and the surrounding world; use imagination and creativity; reflect. Emphasise our school’s close links to our local churches and our wider community.
Moral: Recognise right and wrong; respect the law; understand consequences; investigate moral and ethical issues; offer reasoned views.
Social: Use a range of social skills; participate in the local community; appreciate diverse viewpoints; participate, volunteer and cooperate; resolve conflict; engage with the 'British values' of democracy, the rule of law, liberty, respect and tolerance.
Cultural: Appreciate cultural influences; appreciate the role of Britain's parliamentary system; participate in culture opportunities; understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity.
BRITISH VALUES
The core British Values are:
Democracy
- Rule of Law
- Mutual Respect
- Individual Liberty
- Tolerance
Our RE curriculum allows us to compare these values to Christian values and those of other beliefs.
