In the context of today’s increasingly complex and diverse world, it is vital that Religious Education should help children and young people to hold a balanced and well informed conversation about religion and beliefs (religious literacy). They need to learn to respond thoughtfully to the local, national and global landscape of religion and belief diversity. Religious Education helps pupils to develop their sense of identity and belonging and enables them to flourish individually within their communities and as citizens in a diverse world.

Religious Education also enables pupils to gain a deep awareness of their own and others’ identities. They will obtain a deep knowledge and understanding of the teachings, practices and life stories expressed in a variety of ways within the principal religions and world views. Through reflection on their own beliefs and values in the light of their learning, they grow in respect for themselves and others.

Religious education encourages children to ask challenging questions; about meaning and purpose in life, beliefs and issues of right and wrong.  Through a safe and stimulating environment in which children are entitled to ask questions, they will be able to evaluate and express themselves through debate and discussion, ‘disagree agreeably’. Pupils will learn to articulate their ideas and personal beliefs, while respecting the right of others to differ. Children will learn to ask and respond sensitively to questions about their own and others’ experiences and feelings, in relation to religion and belief. To make links and describe similarities and differences both within and between religions and to apply their ideas to their own and other people’s lives, in relation to religion and belief.

We will deliver a balanced curriculum that:

• Celebrates and embraces our diverse and rich community.
• Inspires creative learning through teaching that builds on prior knowledge and allows for repetition and progression of skills.
• Is inclusive, develops self-confidence and identifies that all our children are unique and therefore we should all be tolerant of each other’s beliefs.
• Encourages our children to be inquisitive about others beliefs developing enquiry based skills that allow them to be culturally aware of the world around them.  
• Promotes equality and understanding and ensures they are prepared for life in modern society.
  

Enquiry based learning will draw will upon aspects from a number of fields including:

Theology (this is about believing): looking at where beliefs come from and how they have changed over time, how they are applied differently in different contexts and how they relate to each other.

Philosophy (this is about thinking): finding out how and whether things make sense, dealing with questions of morality and ethics and reflecting on the nature of reality, knowledge and existence.

Social Sciences (this is about living): exploring the diverse ways in which people practise their beliefs and considering the impact of beliefs on individuals, communities and societies.  

The central purpose of Religious Education is to support children and young people in becoming religiously literate, to enable them to hold a balanced and well informed conversation about religion and beliefs.

Religious literacy requires both knowledge and understanding of the major world religions and world views along with the necessary skills to engage in a balanced conversation. Development of both knowledge and skills are essential to achieve religious literacy as a balanced conversation relies on both.

RE Curriculum

Knowledge

Skills

Believing: 
Knowledge and understanding of the different beliefs of different faiths

Links to concepts of, transcendence and belief

Asking and exploring challenging questions

Making connection

Expressing:

Knowledge and understanding of how people express their religious beliefs

Links to concepts of, worship and tradition

Analysing and using resources

Reflecting on knowledge and understanding

Living: 
Knowledge and understanding of what it means to people to belong to a faith community and how it effects the way people live their lives

Links to concepts of, meaning and belonging

Expressing own ideas and opinions

Understanding and acceptance of diversity faiths and world views

Across the course of each year, children will explore three big questions. These three questions will draw on each of the knowledge strands and will be investigated from the starting point of one of our key concepts.

Teaching of religious education will take an enquiry based approach to support development of the key skills. Children will be encouraged to discuss, debate, question and thoughtfully consider the information.

The curriculum will cover the principal religions and world views:

• Christianity
• Islam
• Hinduism
• Judaism
• Buddhism
• Sikhism
• Humanism