Religious Education (RE) gives children opportunities to explore religious and non-religious beliefs, ask challenging questions and reflect on their own ideas and experiences. Through RE, children develop their knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other principal religions and worldviews represented in the United Kingdom, while learning to engage respectfully with beliefs and perspectives that may be different from their own.

Our RE curriculum aims to develop religious literacy, encourage children to explore their own beliefs, build a sense of identity and belonging, develop respect and consider their responsibilities towards others. These aims are set out explicitly within our RE progression document.

Developing Knowledge and Understanding

Children progressively develop their knowledge of religious beliefs and teachings.

In Key Stage 1, children begin to recall and name different beliefs associated with religions and recognise different religious symbols. As they progress, they develop their understanding of the key beliefs and teachings of the religions studied and consider their significance.

By the end of Key Stage 2, children are expected to explain how beliefs and teachings can contribute to the lives of individuals and communities and recognise differences in practice and interpretation both within and between religions.

Rituals, Ceremonies and Ways of Life

Children explore how religious beliefs can be expressed through daily practices, rituals, ceremonies, artefacts and places of worship.

Their learning develops from recognising and describing religious practices towards understanding their meaning and significance. Children consider ideas such as belonging and identity and explore how religious buildings, rituals and ceremonies can create a sense of community.

As their understanding develops, children compare lifestyles associated with different faiths and consider why people within the same faith may choose to adopt different ways of life.

Expression of Belief

Children explore the different ways in which people express religious belief.

Beginning with religious stories and symbols, children learn about important stories and consider the messages they communicate. As they progress, they encounter a wider range of sources and explore religious symbolism, holy texts and stories.

By the end of Key Stage 2, children consider different ways individuals express their beliefs and are encouraged to share their own opinions and beliefs while showing respect and tolerance for others.

Reflection and Big Questions

Reflection forms an important part of our RE curriculum.

Children are encouraged to think about the things that are important in their own lives, ask questions about things that puzzle them and recognise similarities and differences between people.

As they progress, children encounter questions that may not have an agreed answer and learn that people may respond differently according to their experiences and beliefs. By the end of Key Stage 2, children are expected to explore challenging concepts and questions, express their own views and respond sensitively and empathetically to the views of others.

Personal Values

RE also gives children opportunities to consider values, choices, actions and consequences.

Children begin by exploring how values can affect individuals and communities and considering how their own actions can affect other people. As they progress, they consider shared values, responsibility and British values and citizenship, discussing moral questions and developing their own opinions.

By the end of Key Stage 2, children consider how individuals and communities may hold both similar and differing values. They develop their capacity to make moral judgements, explain their own values and respect the values of others.

Enquiry in Religious Education

The progression document sets out an enquiry process through which children's learning can be developed:

Engagement → Investigation → Evaluation → Expression

Children begin from their own human experience and consider an enquiry question before investigating relevant subject knowledge. They then bring their learning and thinking together to consider the enquiry question, before reflecting on how their learning may have influenced their own starting point or beliefs.

Religious Education Curriculum Overview

Our RE progression document shows how children's knowledge, understanding and reflection develop across:

• Beliefs and teachings
• Rituals, ceremonies and ways of life
• Expression of belief
• Reflection
• Personal values

Please view our Religious Education Curriculum Overview below to see the progression of learning across the school.