Religious Education
Intent
At St Peter's Church of England Primary School, our Religious Education (RE) curriculum has an important role in reflecting the Christian character and vision of our school.
RE has a particular contribution to make towards the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural education of each pupil. It involves learning about religion i.e. understanding what people believe and do, and how they express themselves, and also learning from religion i.e. making sense of who we are, of life, and of right and wrong. We encourage respect for religious commitment and for those holding different beliefs.
As stated in the Church of England Statement of Entitlement for Religious Education, our school aims for all pupils:
- To know about and understand Christianity as a diverse global living faith through the exploration of core beliefs using an approach that critically engages with biblical text.
- To gain knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and world views appreciating diversity, continuity and change within the religions and worldviews being studied.
- To engage with challenging questions of meaning and purpose raised by human existence and experience.
- To recognise the concept of religion and its continuing influence on Britain’s cultural heritage and in the lives of individuals and societies in different times, cultures and places.
- To explore their own religious, spiritual and philosophical ways of living, believing and thinking.
Implementation
As a church school, the teaching of Christianity is at the heart of our RE curriculum. Through the Understanding Christianity resource, the use of an enquiry approach engages with significant theological concepts and the pupil’s own understanding of the world as part of their wider religious literacy. Using the Kent Agreed Syllabus, with the Understanding Christianity resource, we learn about other religions and world views, fostering respect for them.
Curriculum Overview for RE based on Kent Agreed Syllabus
Understanding Christianity
Understanding Christianity Curriculum Information - Early Years
Understanding Christianity Curriculum Information - KS1
Understanding Christianity Curriculum Information - Lower KS2
Understanding Christianity Curriculum Information - Upper KS2
Within the Understanding Christianity resource, there is a focus on a number of core concepts which are part of the 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.
Here is the progression through each of the core concepts within Understanding Christianity:
Parents have the right to withdraw their child/ren from Religious Education after consultation with the Headteacher.
Useful Links
NATRE (National Association of Teachers of Religious Education)