Intent
At Reed First School our intent is to enable our pupils to develop and embed the skills to reflect on their own beliefs and values while acknowledging that others may hold beliefs different to our own. We aim to use Religious Education to help prepare our pupils for adult life and encourage their sense of identity and belonging. Our pupils are supported to develop as individuals, within their own communities, as members of a diverse society and as global citizens.
High quality RE will be open to pupils of all religious traditions and none and will engage pupils, challenging them to reflect on the big questions life throws at us and some of the different responses to these from around the world and throughout history. It will help pupils to understand the world and to find their place within it. It will contribute significantly to building stronger communities in and around the school.
RE is the open exploration of what people believe, their way of life and the impact of beliefs, values and ways of living in local, national and global communities. It engages pupils in the process of understanding what others believe, what is important to them, how they live their lives and what influences them. In doing this, pupils also reflect on their own beliefs and values and their main influences.
Our curriculum for RE aims to ensure that all pupils develop knowledge and understanding of sources of wisdom and their impact whilst exploring personal and critical responses:
Sources of wisdom from religions and worldviews and their impact
All pupils should:
• know, understand and explore the significance and impact of sacred texts, other sources of wisdom and ways of expressing meaning
• express ideas and insights about the nature of beliefs, values and practices and their impact on the identity of individuals and communities locally, nationally and globally
• recognise and explore similarities and differences which exist within and between religious and non-religious worldviews
Personal and critical responses to religion and worldviews
All pupils should:
• express with increasing discernment their personal reflections, critical responses and connections to faith and belief enquiring into and responding to spiritual, philosophical, moral and ethical issues
• engage with the questions and responses offered by religions and worldviews concerning ultimate questions and human responsibility
• develop the skills required to engage with others in dialogue and to cooperate in society with respect and compassion
The national curriculum states the legal requirement that:
Every state-funded school must offer a curriculum which is balanced and broadly based, and which:
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- promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils; and
- prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.
At Reed First School, Religious Education is taught following the Hertfordshire Agreed Syllabus 2023 – 2028. We use the syllabus to ensure the following eight key areas are taught each year:
Through each lesson, the teachers will identify the theme taught and the skills which progress through the school from Knowledge and Understanding of the World in Early Years to skills of Investigating, Interpreting, Reflecting and Empathising. We use resources and ideas form NATRE (National Association of Teachers of Religious Education) to ensure the experiences the children have are enabling them to develop these skills in a creative and where possible practical way.
Our Curriculum map below outlines the eight key areas of learning are covered alongside world views:
Parents have the right to withdraw their child from Religious Education on the grounds of conscience and they should contact the Headteacher if they feel they would like to discuss this.