We have two main aims for our RE curriculum:
- First, it is about beliefs and values. It aims to develop pupils’ understanding of world faiths and other beliefs, exploring their commonality and diversity. A good curriculum will ensure that there is both depth of study (some areas investigated in detail) and breadth (an overall general understanding of the faiths and related philosophical and ethical questions).
- Secondly, it is about ‘belonging’. It aims to nurture pupils’ awareness of the treasury of diversity as well as sensitivity to the questions and challenges that different views and cultures can present. Ultimately, we all share a common humanity and we share this patch of the Earth.
We strongly believe that human beings are strengthened and empowered by learning from each other. So, through experience and culture, it is possible to explore the opportunities, challenges and purpose of our individual lives and communities.
Engaging and stimulating RE helps to nurture informed and resilient responses to misunderstanding, stereotyping and division. It offers a place in the curriculum where difficult or ‘risky’ questions can be tackled within a safe but challenging context. Our purpose is to give pupils a broad understanding of Christianity, world faiths and nonreligious beliefs. It is essential that the curriculum ensures that there is both depth of study (some areas investigated in detail) and breadth (an overall general understanding of the faiths and related philosophical and ethical questions). Our curriculum nurtures SMSC development and pupils’ understanding of diversity. An RE entitlement means it must aim to help pupils to understand diversity, empathy and cohesion alongside developing their own views and beliefs.
Implementation
Due to our diverse community we deliberately nurture tolerance, respect, empathy and kindness in our school for the benefit of our local community.
To achieve this in our lessons we:
- Celebrate the importance of Religious Education by focusing on a religion each half term and delivering engaging, weekly RE sessions.
- Once a term (3 times a year) children participate in an immersive, religious education day linking to different religious celebrations at that time.
- Each topic will start with an enquiry question, that aims to challenge and stimulate the children.
- Vocabulary is carefully chosen and deliberately planned for our learners.
- Support the holistic development of the children, using visitors and planned experiences.
- Allow the children to be reflective and critical about their own experiences, think about beliefs and values.
Conclusion
Our curriculum follows the Leeds SACRE. We want our children to be able to join secondary school with religious education learning experience that has been rich in language, knowledge, and enquiry skills. Our curriculum deliberately integrates religious studies with aspects of philosophical questions and ethical issues, as well as teaching about religious and world views, and it is our aim that children leaving us will be able to fully engage in their local secondary curriculum.