INTENT
At Holy Trinity Church of England Primary Academy School, the aim of Religious Education is to help children to acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity as well as other religious and non-religious worldviews represented in Great Britain. RE equips our children with the language and understanding they need to engage with an ever-changing world; whilst at the same time instilling a sense of respect for all people, including those who do not share the same worldview as ourselves. As such, RE is a main contributor to the pupils’ understanding of the world and their own experiences within it.
We aim to understand the way that religious and non-religious worldviews and values shape our lives and our behaviour, develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues and enhance our spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Through Religious Education, pupils develop their knowledge of the world faiths, and their understanding and awareness of the beliefs, values and traditions of other individuals, societies, communities and cultures. We encourage our pupils to ask questions about the world and to reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences.
Our Religious Education curriculum is enhanced further through our school’s vision, Christian Values and Collective Worship. Religious Education is taught throughout the school in such a way as to reflect the overall aims, values, and philosophy of the school. As a Church of England school, Religious Education plays an important role, along with all other curriculum areas, particularly PSHE and the teaching of British Values, in promoting the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of our children. Strong links are made with our school Vision and Ethos of “Through God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 alongside out core value of hope and 5 other values that are the bedrock of our Christian Collective Worship using Roots and Fruits 2.
IMPLEMENTATION
RE is implemented by the class teacher and the learning is supported through daily worship. Teachers are provided with a planning framework to base their lessons around. As part of this planning process, teachers need to follow:
- Theology – (Making Sense of the Text: Understanding how Christians make sense of Bible stories and texts; developing skills of listening and thinking about what stories and texts mean)
- Human and social science – (Making Connections: Thinking and talking about lessons people learn from the Bible; reflecting on questions and puzzles that arise from the texts and concepts, and making links with their own experiences)
- Philosophy – (Understanding the Impact: Looking at ways in which Christians respond to Bible stories and texts in the Church community and in their own lives)
The core concepts fit into a spiral curriculum, whereby concepts are revisited and explored in more depth as pupils move through the school. These are explored through key questions, however, and so are not applied exclusively – links and connections will be made between concepts during units. It has been agreed that having considered the requirements and guidelines presented in the Agreed Syllabus, the following religions have been selected for study:
Christianity – through ‘Understanding Christianity’ the Shropshire SACRE syllabus and Lichfield Diocese guidance of other faiths
- Islam
- Judaism
As Christianity is the predominant religion in the school’s pupil population and in the community surrounding the school, Christianity is the main faith studied each year with a minimum of 50% of the RE curriculum devoted to it. However, all children will experience at least four other major worldviews across their school career, as well as encountering non-religious beliefs through from interfaith days, visitors of other faiths, visits to places of worship and the celebration of festivals.
There are no presumptions made as to the religious backgrounds, and beliefs and values of the children and the staff. We value the religious or non-religious background of all members of the school community and hope that this will encourage individuals to share their own experiences with others freely.
All worldviews and their communities are treated with respect and sensitivity, and we value the links, which are, and can be made between home, school, and a faith community. We acknowledge that each religion or worldview studied can contribute to the education of all our pupils. We promote teaching in Religious Education that stresses open enquiry and first-hand experiences wherever possible for both staff and children.
IMPACT
The children at Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School enjoy learning about other religions and worldviews and why people choose or choose not to hold religious or non-religious beliefs. Through their R.E. learning, the children can make links between their own lives and those of others in their community and in the wider world. Through R.E. our children are developing an understanding of other people’s cultures and ways of life and worship, and their own which they are then able to communicate to the wider community. Our Religious Education Curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate depth of thinking.
If children are showing a deep understanding of the core concepts of Christianity and can ask relevant questions that broaden their opinions, they are deemed to be making good progress. Children are encouraged to:
- Reflect on their experiences to help deepen their understanding.
- Participate and engage in a full curriculum broad and balanced curriculum.
- Recognise prior learning and builds on this during a lesson, over a unit of work and overtime.
- Remember and recall the long-term content of the curriculum.
- Become confident, resilient, curious and investigative learners.
- Have a positive attitude to learning.
- Learn about the modern world and how to be good citizen within this.
- Supports theirs and others spiritual development, mental health and well-being.
- Inspire and engage in new learning and try new things.
- Celebrates the uniqueness in themselves and others and celebrate both their personal and academic achievements in all subjects.
- Submerge themselves in the cultural capital they need to succeed in life beyond Holy Trinity.
Spirituality in Religious Education
Learning activities in RE provide for the needs of all pupils, offering a safe space to explore their own religious, spiritual and/or philosophical ways of seeing, living and thinking, believing and belonging. They provide opportunities to engage in meaningful and informed dialogue with those of all religions and worldviews, linking these to pupils’ ideas of spirituality.
Collective-worship-policy-2023-2024 signed
Holy Trinity Oswestry RE overview long term plan 2 year rolling programme
