RE
WHY IS RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IMPORTANT ?
Religious Education is a foundation subject in the National Curriculum. Religious education enables children to be reflective about their own beliefs (religious or secular) as well developing a deep respect for the beliefs of others through the knowledge and understanding of different faiths, feelings and values . Through the study of Christianity and other faiths, children will come to recognise and value common beliefs across cultural and religious communities. . We believe that this reflection approach develops tolerance, respect and understanding not only for their school and local communities, but also for their future, as we equip them with skills to take their place in wider society.
ROOTED IN KNOWLEDGE
All children follow an enquiry based syllabus - the Discovery RE Scheme which meets the requirements of the Royal Borough Of Kingston agreed syllabus for RE. Religious education planning is built around this scheme and together with knowledge organisers, ensure clear progression as children move up through the school. Through an informative, engaging and challenging knowledge based curriculum, children will acquire a deeper understanding of a range of religions and beliefs that are held in our community. Armed with this knowledge, they will be able to reflect, debate and discuss different ideas and opinions, in order to engage with others confidently, with empathy and open mindedness. We aim to nurture a sense of belonging to the school community as we discuss shared goals and challenges. Children will learn about religions and beliefs in local, national and global contexts e.g. how religious festivals are celebrated, and how religious beliefs impact daily living.
HOW IS LEARNING SEQUENCED?
Learning is sequenced using the knowledge and skills progression documents developed by the school, using the structure and themes taken from the syllabus.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN THE EARLY YEARS
Throughout the Early Years, the ideas and values that underpin all religions and our tolerance for all people’s beliefs are taught across the curriculum . Children are encouraged to engage with others, to develop an interest in people around them, to think critically and to incorporate new ideas into their own.
In the area of Personal, Social and Emotional Development, children are taught to make positive and lasting relationships with others, accepting that other people have ideas and feelings which might be different from theirs. They are taught how to compromise, resolve conflict and listen to others' ideas. They become increasingly aware of the similarities and differences between themselves and others and each child is celebrated for their unique abilities. They recognise that they belong to different communities and social groups and begin to talk freely about home and community. They develop an understanding of their own and others feelings and offer empathy and comfort. They are able to understand and discuss the consequences of their behaviour and that of others.
In the area of Understanding of the World, they are encouraged to talk about their own families which develops into an interest in people in the wider community. They talk about what makes them special and can talk about similarities and differences in relation to friends and family. As their listening and language skills develop, they are encouraged to reflect, question and discuss their learning and their interests.
Reception also learn about the following :
Autumn Term - Special People and Christianity, Christmas Christianity.
Spring Term - Celebration in Islam and Judaism, Easter Christianity.
Summer Term - Stories from Various Religions, Special Places in Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
OVERVIEW OF LEARNING IN KS1 AND KS2
The curriculum framework for RE breaks down the aims of RE into 3 strands- These strands ensure that children learn about as well as learn from RE.
A- Know about and understand a range of religions and world views.
B- Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and world views.
C- Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and world views.
Skills Progression
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KS1 |
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Strand A Know about and understand a range of religions and world views. |
Strand B Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and world views. |
Strand C Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and world |
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A1- Recall and name different beliefs and practices, including festivals, worships, rituals and ways of life, in order to find out about the meaning behind them. A2- Retell and suggest meanings to some religious and moral stories, exploring and discussing sacred writings and sources of wisdom and recognising the traditions from which they come. A3- Recognise some different symbols and actions which express a community’s way of life, appreciating some similarities between communities. |
B1-Ask and respond to questions about what individuals and communities do, and why, so that pupils can identify what difference belonging to a community might make. B2-Observe and recount different ways of expressing identity and belonging, responding sensitively for themselves. B3- Notice and respond sensitively to some similarities between different religions and world views. |
C1-Explore questions about belonging, meaning and truths so that they can express their own ideas and opinions in response using words, music, art or poetry. C2- Find out about and respond with ideas to examples of cooperation between people who are different. C3- Find out about questions of right and wrong and begin to express their ideas and opinions in response. |
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KS2 |
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Strand A Know about and understand a range of religions and world views. |
Strand B Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and world views. |
Strand C Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and world |
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A1- Describe and make connections between different features of the religions and world views they study, discovering more about celebrations, worship, pilgrimages and the rituals which mark important points in life, in order to reflect on their significance. A2- Describe and understand links between stories and other aspects of the communities they are investigating, responding thoughtfully to a range of sources of wisdom and to beliefs and teachings that arise from them in different communities. A3- Explore and describe a range of beliefs, symbols and actions so that they can understand different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning. |
B1- Observe and understand varied examples of religions and world views so that they can explain with reasons their meanings and significance to individuals and communities. B2- Understand the challenges of commitment to a community of faith or belief, suggesting why belonging to a community may be valuable, both in the diverse communities being studied and in their own lives. B3- Observe and consider different dimensions of religion, so that they can explore and show understanding of similarities and differences within and between different religions and world views. |
C1- Discuss and present thoughtfully their own and others’ views on challenging questions about belonging, meaning and purpose and truth, applying ideas of their own in different forms including for example, reasoning, music, art and poetry. C2- Consider and apply ideas about ways in which diverse communities can live together for the well-being of all, responding thoughtfully to ideas about community, values and respect. C3- Discuss and apply their own and others’ ideas about ethical questions, including ideas about what is right and wrong, and what is just and fair, and express their own ideas clearly in response. |
Overview of learning
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Year group |
Autumn term |
Spring term |
Summer Term |
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Year 1 |
Christianity: The Creation Story, The Christmas Story. |
Christianity: Jesus and a Friend. Easter and Palm Sunday |
Judaism: Shabbat and Chanukah. |
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Year 2 |
Christianity: Jesus's Teachings. Christmas, - Jesus as a gift from God |
Judaism: Passover. Christianity: Easter Resurrection. |
Judaism: Prayer at Home. Commitment to God |
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Year 3 |
Hinduism: Diwali |
Christianity: Jesus's Miracles |
Sikhism: Sharing and Community. Hinduism: Pilgrimage to the River Ganges. |
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Year 4 |
Judaism: Beliefs and Practices.Christianity: Christmas Nativity. |
Judaism: Passover. |
Judaism: Rites of Passage |
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Year 5
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Islam: Commitment to God |
Islam: Links to Early Islamic civilization and Religion. |
Islam: Belief and moral values Parts 1 and 2. |
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Year 6 |
Sikhism: Belief in Action. Christianity: The Role of Mary in the Christmas Story. |
Christianity: Is anything eternal? Easter - Is Christianity still strong and relevant? |
Sikhism: Prayer and worship Parts 1 and 2. |
ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING
In Religious Education, teachers assess children’s progress by making observations during lessons and discussions, using evidence in books and at the end of unit assessments.
Assessment is used to inform future lessons, ensuring children are supported and challenged appropriately. At the end of a unit, children’s knowledge is assessed through written and discussion based assessment, giving them the opportunity to reflect on their knowledge of the unit as a whole.
Final end of year assessments are made using criteria that have been developed in line with the National Curriculum. Children in the Early Years are assessed within the Personal, Social and Emotional and Understanding of the World criteria in the Early Years Framework. Age related expectation levels are reported to parents at the end of the year. Religious education is monitored through a variety of strategies including : including: planning and book scrutiny, lesson observations and pupil voice.
ENRICHED BY EXPERIENCE
Educational visits to places of worship will bring the learning to life by offering the children the opportunity to reflect on why a sacred space is so important to a religious community. We also welcome visitors from faith communities and those who hold secular beliefs, as these provide opportunities for the children to discuss and reflect on an individual's personal interpretation and experience of their faith.
Insight, based at the Kingston Cornerstone Church, visits school and lead lessons and assemblies across the different year groups about different aspects of Christianity. They also provide opportunities for KS1 children to visit local Christian centres of Worship. Year 4 visit a local synagogue and Year 5 Kingston Mosque. Trips to other centres of worship are in the planning stages, due to different restrictions COVID restrictions.
Our school values of excellence, nurture, community and exploration are at the core of our teaching and learning.