RE
Intent
There is a clear and coherent rationale for our curriculum and the values of our school community are promoted through our R.E Curriculum. Children acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of the beliefs, values and practices of religions and other world views represented in Great Britain and explore their commonality and diversity. Therefore, the children are encouraged to develop the values of empathy, respect and tolerance. Children learn to articulate clearly and coherently their personal beliefs, ideas, values and experiences while respecting the right of others to differ and supporting wider community cohesion. Children have the opportunity to enhance their spiritual, moral, cultural and social development by considering the fundamental questions of life. Our curriculum develops positive attitudes such as respect, curiosity, open-mindedness, self-confidence, consideration, appreciation and enjoyment. It also develops skills such as: critical thinking, enquiry, expression, empathy, interpretation, reflection and understanding.
In school, the curriculum is based on the Local Agreed Syllabus for Calderdale and Kirklees, ‘Believing and Belonging’. To support delivery of the syllabus, lessons are planned around the units of work provided that demonstrates a balance of religious content and provides continuity and a clear knowledge and skills progression as outlined in our provision map. During the Early Years, there is an emphasis on learning from religion, rather than on learning about religion and the curriculum will be delivered through planned and purposeful play and through a mixture of child-initiated and adult-led activities. At Key Stage 1, teaching is focussed around Christianity and Islam, alongside understanding of non-religious approaches to life. At key Stage 2, teaching and learning is extended to include Judaism and Sikhism.
Implementation
When teaching RE, we focus on a key question related to the subject content. We then analyse the question, investigate relevant beliefs, practices and ways of life and then children are able to give a reasoned and critical response. Our curriculum is implemented through lively, active and inclusive teaching methods such as art, music, discussion, drama, the use of artefacts and pictures, stories and videos. Our curriculum is also delivered through our themed assembly schedule where main religious festivals and celebrations are often the theme of our daily assembly schedule.
Children in our school have the opportunity to visit places of worship, for example, the local church and Sinai Synagogue, and benefit from members of local faith or world view communities visiting school, for example, workshops lead by a Jewish visitor and a Humanist visitor.
The R.E. curriculum is taught as a discrete subject, but, where appropriate teachers adopt a cross-curricular approach through our year group topics. Teachers also often make use of cross-curricular links between P.S.H.E and R.E. learning.