Religious Education

The principal aim of religious education is to explore what people believe and what differences this makes to how they live so that pupils can gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion and belief, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living.

Our children will learn from and about a range of world faiths, developing their knowledge of religions and allowing them to appreciate beliefs and practices, recognising diversity and values within and between communities and amongst individuals. We create an environment where children are encouraged to ask questions and to reflect on their own and others’ beliefs, demonstrating respect and understanding.

RE also contributes to pupils’ personal development, well-being and to community cohesion by promoting mutual respect and tolerance in a diverse society. Through our provision we support pupils to build positive, enjoyable, respectful relationships and to respect the rich culture and diversity of those around us in the UK.

We have chosen to follow ‘The Sandwell Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education’ (SACRE). This syllabus provides a coherent framework for setting high standards of learning in RE, and enabling pupils to reach their potential in the subject.

The curriculum for RE aims to ensure that all pupils can:

1. Make sense of a range of religious and non-religious beliefs, so that they can:

• identify, describe, explain and analyse beliefs and concepts in the context of living religions, using appropriate vocabulary.
• explain how and why these beliefs are understood in different ways, by individuals and within communities.
• recognise how and why sources of authority (e.g. texts, teachings, traditions, leaders) are used, expressed and interpreted in different ways, developing skills of interpretation.

2. Understand the impact and significance of religious and non-religious beliefs, so that they can:

• examine and explain how and why people express their beliefs in diverse ways.
• recognise and account for ways in which people put their beliefs into action in diverse ways, in their everyday lives, within their communities and in the wider world.
• appreciate and appraise the significance of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning.

3. Make connections between religious and non-religious beliefs, concepts, practices and ideas studied, so that they can:

• evaluate, reflect on and enquire into key concepts and questions studied, responding thoughtfully and creatively, giving good reasons for their responses.
• challenge the ideas studied, and allow the ideas studied to challenge their own thinking, articulating beliefs, values and commitments clearly in response.
• discern possible connections between the ideas studies and their own ways of understanding the world, expressing their critical responses and personal reflections with increasing clarity and understanding.

Pupils will study a range of religious traditions for the following groups in depth:

Reception: Children will encounter Christianity and other faiths, including learning from Sikh, Muslim and Hindu religions as part of their growing sense of self, their own community and their place within it.

Key Stage One: Christians, Sikhs and Muslims (an additional study of Hinduism where there are many Hindu pupils in a class).

Key Stage Two: Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jewish people.

An overview for each year group can be found here.