Religious Education Ambition

Religious Education Ambition

Religious Education and our identity as Eldersfield Lawn Church of England Primary School are central to everything the children experience during their time with us. Our aim is to sensitively build children’s understanding of world faiths by making Religious Education relevant to 21st Century life. We believe that common values and strands throughout different religions will help children to make good decisions about the best ways to live their lives.

Across the school we use the Worcestershire Agreed Syllabus which was created in 2020. It provides a coherent framework for setting high standards of learning in R.E. and enabling pupils to reach their potential in the subject. This continuity provides coherent understanding across the core concepts, teaching and learning approaches and assessment. The principal aim of religious education is to explore what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion and belief, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living. The syllabus is supported by the document and training in Understanding Christianity.

From Reception, the EYFS curriculum supports the children to adopt positive attitudes to everyone and celebrate differences. Through the Personal, Social and Emotional Development and Understanding the World areas of learning the children learn to talk about the lives of people they are familiar with and recognise similarities in religious and cultural communities.

In Class 2 pupils begin to build their understanding of different religions around the world and start to ask and answer questions designed to provoke and build their understanding. The beliefs studied in Years 1 and 2 are those of Christians, Jews and Muslims, this language is used deliberately to make the learning relevant and based on what is happening in the world now, rather than historically, although traditions of different faiths are explored and celebrated. Children begin to explore the overlaps between making sense of beliefs, making connections and understanding the impact of these.

As children move into Class 3 the range of beliefs studied extends to include Hindus as well. The use of ‘Big Questions’ continues to be explored to challenge and develop children’s ideas about these religions and what and how they know about the religion. The use of texts and stories is built upon to allow children to explore what these sources mean to believers locally, nationally and in the global community.

In Class 4 the core connections between what people believe and how they live, individually and in communities is further developed. Children are expected to be able to identify and explain the beliefs and concepts studied, using examples from different texts and sources. We encourage the children to challenge ideas and research to find evidence that they might reflect on and recognise that others may think differently.

Across the school we use large ‘floor’ books to record the developing understanding about Religious Education. These allow the children to see the links between core concepts and work together to build cohesive ideas and appreciate the ideas of all class members.

Throughout their RE studies children will develop the values and behaviours to be kind and understanding adults, who demonstrate understanding of the needs of others as well as themselves. The link between RE and the core Christian Values we have adopted as a school help our children to become kind and thoughtful individuals and this behaviour is evident across the school. This is reflected in our school ethos of LIFE; Living and Inspiring Futures for Everyone.