RE (Religious Education)
RE Intent Statement
RE explores big questions about life, to find out what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can make sense of religion, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living. Over time, children will explore a variety of big questions that will layer together to encourage them to make sense of the world and people around them. This will include exploring a variety of religions as well as the beliefs that they all share, including the beliefs of those who choose not to follow a religion.
Children are encouraged to explore their religious thinking not only through timetabled RE lessons but also within a weekly collective worship themed assembly, topic days linked to religious festivals and various subject specialists. As part of the Smawthorne Experience, we have visitors representing different religions, including Imran Kotwal who will speak to Year 5 about life as a Muslim in Britain, Father Keith, who delivers assemblies throughout the year, and Malcolm Taylor, from the Etz Chaim Synagogue who discusses Shabbat with Year 2. Each year and visits to the local church (Castleford's Parish Church).
Children are encouraged to appreciate the values of everyone and begin to understand that morals and principles can be linked between religious and non-religious people.
The Subject Leader oversees the planning and teaching of RE to ensure that pupils access a variety of strands from the Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education, including exploring – Believing, Living and Expressing through religion. This includes speaking to pupils and teachers about RE teaching and learning across school and using subject leader time to evaluate what is going well and where improvements can be made. This is to ensure that the children receive a rounded knowledge of the RE curriculum. Resources are also made available and maintained to ensure that the children can experience artefacts and icons linking to various religions that they would not otherwise see.
Many books and stories are shared throughout the RE curriculum to ensure the children maintain their high standards of reading comprehension across the curriculum. Throughout the year, classes are also asked to take part in themed sessions linking to many world and religious beliefs. These include religious holidays, as well as celebrating our individual beliefs.
Inspirational Quote:
"All religions must be tolerated... for every man must get to heaven in his own way."
Epictetus
Aims and Objectives:
Our principal aim is to enable children to develop, within a Christian context, a spiritual understanding of the nature of religious beliefs and practices and the importance and influence of these on the lives of believers.
· To develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other principal religious traditions represented in Great Britain.
· To develop understanding of the ways in which beliefs influence people and their behaviour, practices and their communities.
· To reflect on, deepen and clarify their own experiences, values and beliefs and those of others.
· To develop an awareness of fundamental questions about life arising from human experience and how religious beliefs and practices can relate to them.
· To recognise the right of people to hold diverse beliefs and values and to develop positive attitudes of respect towards other people.
· To benefit from opportunities to enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
· To promote and continue to foster the strong and vital links we have with St Michael’s Church. We work to embody our Christian foundation in all aspects of school life.
Religious Education Long Term Plan
At Smawthorne Henry Moore Primary School we follow the Wakefield Local Authority recommended Sacre Syllabus 2023-2028.
The curriculum for R.E. aims to ensure that all pupils:
- Know about and understand a range of religions and worldviews.
- Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and worldviews.
- Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage with religions and worldviews.
We encourage our children to develop tolerance and respect of others’ views whilst being secure in the knowledge that their own views, opinions and feelings will be valued.
Our children are taught to develop their knowledge and understanding of religions and worldviews, recognising their local, national and global contexts.
How is Religious Education taught here?
R.E. is taught through discrete weekly lessons, as well as special themed days or weeks in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and KS1. A term programme maps out the coverage of the discrete teaching and learning opportunities for children to develop their knowledge and interest in this subject.
Within each R.E lesson class teachers carefully plan the specific outcomes for their year group, based upon age the appropriate knowledge and skills that is expected in accordance with the Wakefield Agreed Syllabus 2023-2028. Our teaching and learning opportunities allow all children to reflect on other religions and make comparison to their own lives.
New vocabulary is taught, with the key emphasis on common words and phrases relating to religions, ensuring underlying principles and meanings of the words are taught and understood. Questioning is used to check their understanding and prior knowledge, before new concepts or skills are introduced. Modelling is used by class teachers to clarify expectations. Children are then given plentiful opportunities to consolidate, build upon and apply basic skills and knowledge to tasks.
What the children have to say:
"I really enjoy learning about what other people believe."
"I like when we have a day to learn about different festivals."
"We learn about RE because it’s good to think about what other people believe."
"I really enjoyed our Diwali assembly - I learnt all about Rama and Sita."
