At Saint George’s Church of England Primary Phase, we believe that Religious Education (RE) has an important part to play in promoting the spiritual, moral, social, cultural, and intellectual development of our pupils and in helping them to gain a greater understanding of themselves and a more sympathetic awareness of the needs of others. This enables pupils to be better equipped to cope with the responsibilities and experiences of adult life. To promote the ideas of our school vision, we believe that education in RE should be a child-centred, exciting journey. Children will learn to understand the world and their place in it, know that all members of the school community are different, show respect and tolerance for others and develop a more informed cultural awareness. Children will have the opportunity to reflect and develop their spiritual awareness through a variety of activities and philosophical discussions. At the heart of our vision is the belief in inclusive, educational excellence. RE across all key stages, develops the children’s knowledge and understanding of different religions and beliefs which form part of our society today. Our RE curriculum develops pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity and of other religions and traditions. It supports us in promoting mutual respect and tolerance in our diverse society. High quality learning experiences are provided by careful planning from the Rochester Diocesan syllabus. Our RE lessons provoke challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God and issues of right and wrong.

We follow the Rochester Diocesan syllabus and structuring our learning alongside the Quigley curriculum helps the children to:

• Acquire and develop a deep level of knowledge and understanding of Christianity.
• Develop an awareness of other principle religions represented in Great Britain: Sikhism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.
• Develop an understanding of the influence of beliefs, values and traditions on individuals, communities, societies, and cultures.
• Develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues, with reference to the teachings of the principle religions represented in Great Britain.
• Develop a positive attitude towards other people, respecting their right to hold beliefs that are different to their own.
• Enhance their spiritual, moral, cultural, and social development by:
• Developing an awareness of the fundamental questions of life raised by human experiences, and of how religious teaching can relate to them.
• Respond to such questions with reference to the teachings and practices of religions, and to their own understanding and experience.
• Reflect on their own beliefs, values, and experiences in the light of their study.

Organisation and content

• Assessment will take place at the end of each termly unit, this will be through observation, oral discussion, written tasks in RE books and also through the use of the class ‘big books’ as well as drawings.
• Planning provides a termly overview of how RE is taught in the school. It shows the topics that each year group will deliver across the academic year.
• Care is taken to ensure that pupils have opportunities to develop their understanding, knowledge, skills and concepts as they move through the school.
• Using the ‘Understanding Christianity’ resource, we support pupils in exploring the significant theological concepts within Christianity as part of developing pupils’ wider religious, theological, and cultural literacy. The core concepts reflect a view that the bible tells a ‘big story’ of salvation. Pupils revisit the core concepts throughout the different key stages, deepening their understanding and making the links to the overall ‘big story’ or ‘salvation narrative.’
• Pupils’ learning is further enriched through our recognition of the key religious dates of different faiths and opportunities are taken to visit St Mary’s Church and other religious centres. We value the importance of discussion and children are given opportunities to ask questions, whilst building mutual respect.

As a result, skills such as observing, questioning, discussing, evaluating, and reflecting are encouraged in RE. As with many parts of the curriculum, this helps children develop in to more measured and enlightened individuals.  Learning will be recorded through individual RE books as well as whole class RE ‘big books’ to record discussion notes, photographs, and role-play opportunities as part of their RE lessons. Sensitivity to others and a readiness to listen to other’s viewpoints are strongly encouraged. Children in the school show respect for others’ rights to their own values and beliefs and they can use appropriate strategies for managing influence and are encouraged to take positive risks.  They are developing an aspiration as individuals who are confident to set their own goals for success.

By the end of their time with us, pupils will be able to:

• give reasoned explanations of how and why the key Christian concepts studied, are related.
• suggest meanings of biblical concepts and texts, explaining their ideas with reasons and evidence.
• give reasons and examples to explain how and why Christians respond to bible texts and the concepts studied; and how and why they are influenced by them, as individuals, in church communities and in the wider world.
• explain how Christians make moral and religious decisions.
• respond to the challenges of the biblical ideas and teachings in the world today and in their own lives, offering reasons and justifications for their responses.
• explain the beliefs of major world religions and world views, their impact on society, culture, and the wider world, enabling them to express ideas and insights.
• Pupil voice is important in reviewing our provision for RE, with children given opportunities to self-reflect or deepen their understanding at the end of each lesson. The RE Leader monitors the quality and impact of the RE curriculum and assesses the extent to which pupils develop their knowledge and skills.