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Religious Education

Subject Leader: Mrs E Holmes - holmese@saintgeorgescofe.kent.sch.uk

Saint George's Church of England Primary Phase will provide a high-quality Religious education curriculum that recognises and reflects all pupils’ beliefs and practices.

Intent

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.

Implementation

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.

Impact

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.

 

Religious Education for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Children in Year R will examine the key concepts of Creation, Incarnation and Salvation. The children will learn about the creation story and will think about why God is essential to Christians. They will learn about the birth of Jesus and Jesus’ death at Easter. The children will hear and participate in a range of Bible stories from the Old and New Testament and will explore what they can learn from these. They will look at and explore other religious stories from different world faiths.

Term Topic
1 BEING SPECIAL OR CREATION - Why is the word ‘God’ so important to Christians?
2 INCARNATION - Why do Christians perform Nativity plays at Christmas?
3 BEING SPECIAL OR CREATION - Why is the word ‘God’ so important to Christians?
4 SALVATION - Why do Christians put a cross in an Easter garden?
5 What can we learn from Old Testament stories?
6 What do Christians believe is special about Jesus and the message that he brings?

Religious Education for Key Stage 1 (KS1)

During years 1 and 2, children will get the chance to explore the key concepts of Christianity and Judaism. Please see below for more depth of study within these years.

Progression of Skills

Year 1

Children in Year 1 will examine the key concepts of God, Incarnation, Gospel and Salvation. The children will start to look at key vocabulary and phrases that describe religious ideas and beliefs and will use these when talking about their own experiences of religion. The children will start to look at the life of Jesus and will think in more depth about why Christmas and Easter are important to Christians. The children will also look at and explore stories told by people of different faiths and beliefs.

Year 2

Children in Year 2 will examine the key concepts of Creation, Incarnation, Gospel and Salvation. The children will continue to build on their religious vocabulary and will be encouraged to question and share their experiences. The children will think about who made the world and will look in greater depth at the questions asked in Year 1 about Jesus and the importance of Christmas and Easter. The children will also look at Judaism and the special people and times remembered and celebrated within this faith.

Term Topic
1 GOD - What do Christians believe that God is like?
2 INCARNATION - Why does Christmas matter to Christians? CORE LEARNING
3 GOSPEL - What is the good news that Jesus brings? CORE LEARNING
4 SALVATION - Why does Easter matter to Christians? CORE LEARNING
5 What stories are told by and about people of different faiths and beliefs?
6 What stories are told by and about people of different faiths and beliefs?
Term Topic
1 CREATION - Who made the world?
2 INCARNATION - Why does Christmas matter to Christians? DIGGING DEEPER
3 GOSPEL - What is the good news that Jesus brings? DIGGING DEEPER
4 SALVATION - Why does Easter matter to Christians? DIGGING DEEPER
5 JUDAISM - What special times and people do Jewish people remember and celebrate?
6 JUDAISM - What special times and people do Jewish people remember and celebrate?

Religious Education for Key Stage 2 (KS2)

During key stage 2, children will begin to explore other faiths including Sikhism and Hinduism. Pupils will get to visit places of worship and attend festivals to immerse themselves in the religion. Please see below for more depth of study within these years.

Progression of Skills

Year 3

Children in Year 3 will look at the key concepts of People of God, Incarnation, Salvation and the Kingdom of God. The children will be encouraged to share their personal beliefs and values. The children will learn about the Trinity, the impact of Pentecost, Good Friday and will think about what it is like to follow God. The children will also look at Sikhism and will discuss what is important for Sikhs and how they worship and celebrate.

Year 4

Children in Year 4 will examine the key concepts of Creation, Incarnation, Gospel and Salvation. The children will be encouraged to express their ideas and beliefs and discuss religion. They will continue to explore The Trinity and Good Friday and will think about what Christians learn from the Creation Story and the type of world Jesus wanted. The children will look at Hinduism and what Hindu people believe about God and how they worship and celebrate.

Term Topic
1 PEOPLE OF GOD - What is it like to follow God?
2 INCARNATION - What is the Trinity? CORE LEARNING
3 SIKHISM - What is important for Sikh people?
4 SALVATION - Why do Christians call the day Jesus died ‘Good Friday’? CORE LEARNING
5 KINGDOM OF GOD - When Jesus left, what was the impact of Pentecost?
6 SIKHISM - How do Sikh people worship and celebrate?
Term Topic
1 CREATION - What do Christians learn from the Creation story?
2 INCARNATION - What is the Trinity? DIGGING DEEPER
3 GOSPEL - What kind of a world did Jesus want?
4 SALVATION - Why do Christians call the day Jesus died ‘Good Friday’? DIGGING DEEPER
5 HINDUISM - What do Hindu people believe about God?
6 HINDUISM - How do Hindu people worship and celebrate?

Year 5

In Year 5 the children will explore the key concepts of God, Incarnation, People of God and Salvation. The children will think about what it means if God is loving and holy and how following God can bring freedom and justice. The children will continue to discuss Jesus and think about his life and through Bible stories, find out how Jesus saved human lives. The children will also look at Islam and what do Muslim people believe about the way they should live their lives and why.

Year 6

In Year 6 the children will explore the key concepts of Creation, Gospel, Salvation and Kingdom of God. The children will think about how Jesus led his life and what kind of King Jesus was. The children will discuss Jesus’ resurrection and its significance for Christians. They will explore how Jesus lead his life and the lessons the taught and how these encourage Christians to lead their lives today. The children will be encouraged to discuss the relationship between science and Religion and whether they are conflicting or complementary. The children will also look at Buddhism and what Buddhists believe about the way they should live their lives and why.

 
 

Progression

We develop our pupil’s Religious Education understanding through essential skills; growing their depth of knowledge year after year. We are able to monitor their progress and allocate extra support and adaptations to the curriculum for pupils to maintain a strong Religious education.

SEND Information

We ensure that SEND and disadvantaged children are given the necessary support in class to fully access the RE Curriculum and equal opportunities are given for all to be confident in approaching any problem within the world around them.

Extra Resources