RE
Subject leader: Miss Taylor
Subject ambassador: Emma and Amira
Abbey Gates Primary School
RE Curriculum Offer
Intent
It is our intention that our RE curriculum offer is bespoke for our school to provide the bridge between our ethos to Aim High & Be Kind, our 5Cs (Compassion, Care, Courtesy, Confidence and Cooperation) and the National Curriculum. Although there is not a National Curriculum for RE, all maintained schools must follow the National Curriculum requirements to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, which includes RE. All maintained schools therefore have a statutory duty to teach RE. Our vision is to equip our pupils with key skills, knowledge and vocabulary motivated by our curriculum drivers, which are possibilities, diversity and community.
RE lessons at Abbey Gates provoke thinking through challenging questions about meaning and purpose in life, beliefs about God, ultimate reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. Teaching should equip pupils with knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and worldviews, enabling them to develop their ideas, values and identity. It should develop an aptitude for dialogue in pupils so that they can participate positively in our society which is diverse in relation to religions and worldviews. Pupils should learn how to study religions and worldviews systematically, making progress by reflecting on the impact of religions and worldviews on contemporary life locally, nationally and globally to increasing levels of complexity and depth. Pupils should gain and deploy the skills needed to interpret and evaluate evidence, texts and sources of wisdom or authority. They learn to articulate clear and coherent accounts of their personal beliefs, ideas, values and experiences while respecting the right of others to have different views, values and ways of life. Furthermore, it is our intent to provide our pupils with a rich and broad cultural capital through purposeful enrichment opportunities to achieve excellence for all.
Implement
At Abbey Gates we believe that nothing has been learnt until it is in the long-term memory and that memory is the residue of thought. Teaching staff are provided with the resources and CPD they need to equip children with key skills and ‘sticky knowledge’ and to embed these, thus accomplishing our intent of excellence for all. Key skills and knowledge are revisited within each year and across year groups.
At Abbey Gates we follow the SACRE syllabus provided by Nottinghamshire County Council which was updated in September 2020 and provides progression from EYFS through to Y6.
As part of our bespoke curriculum we have introduced three projects: ‘DISCOVER’, ‘CREATE’ and ‘EXPLORE’. Each project has a carefully considered ‘BIG QUESTION’. There are opportunities within these projects for our children to learn and apply RE knowledge and skills to broaden their thinking and help them consider different religions and world views. Pupils learn about religion and from religion. They explore abstract concepts and apply their thinking to the wider world promoting tolerance and celebrating diversity in a context that is relevant to them.
In the Foundation Stage, children will learn to develop a growing sense of the child’s awareness of self, their own community and their place within this, children will encounter Christianity and other faiths found in their own classroom, simply.
Building upon this, from Y1-6 the agreed syllabus requires that all pupils learn from Christianity in each key stage. In addition to Christianity our children learn from other principal religions.
B – Buddhism, C – Christianity, H – Hinduism, I – Islam, J – Judaism, S – Sikhism, WV - World View
In setting high standards for all pupils in RE we make use of the widest possible range of strategies for learning including: philosophical enquiry, open questioning, thinking skills, discussion, expressive arts and creativity, external visits and visitors and resources for learning. Within our RE teaching and learning we also make connections with British values, community cohesion, global learning and respect for all. We also ensure RE teaching within our school supports the children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
The agreed syllabus and quality teaching provide many opportunities for RE teaching and learning to challenge stereotypical views and to appreciate difference positively whilst recognising similarities between different cultures and religions and making these links. To help us achieve this we celebrate a variety of festivals and special days, which are significant to many cultures and religions.
Impact
The impact of our RE offer is measured through our comprehensive monitoring cycle, which includes book looks, learning walks, pupil voice, planning scrutiny and curriculum intent reviews. Upon review, the subject leader will agree and formulate an action plan for improvement, which leaders from each phase will then take back to their teams for action.
The intended impact of our RE curriculum offer is outlined below:
- Children can articulate and explain what RE is.
- Children are equipped with extensive RE knowledge and vocabulary which is embedded.
- Children have a passion for RE and a sense of curiosity to investigate different religions.
- Children have an excellent knowledge of other religions.
- Children understand and embrace diversity.
- Children understand and promote community cohesion.
- Children understand the differences and similarities of different religions.
- Children are able to live in a country which is diverse in terms of cultures, religions and beliefs.
- Children recognise anti-social behaviour such as racism and develop strategies to deal with it.
- Children can promote multicultural understanding and respect for all.
- Children understand how one religion has influenced the development of another.
- Children are well-rounded spiritually, morally, socially and culturally.