Religious Education

Intent

At Cledford Primary School, we believe it is important for all pupils to learn from and about different religions and non-religions, so that they can understand the multicultural world around them. Religious Education has a significant role for the development of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. It promotes respect and open- mindedness towards others with different faiths and beliefs and encourages pupils to develop their sense of identity and belonging through self-awareness and reflection. The principle aim of RE is to engage pupils in an enquiry approach where they can develop an understanding and appreciation for the expression of beliefs, cultural practices and influence of different religions and world views in the local, national and wider global community.

It is important to us that we display positive attitudes towards different religions. It is imperative that we promote respect, one of our school rules, and tolerance, a key British Value, as we believe it is important for pupils to have the ability to accept the different religious beliefs we all have. With this, we encourage our pupils to ask questions about our world and reflect upon their own experiences and values and learn to appreciate how Religious Education can shape life and behaviour.

Implementation

At Cledford, Religious Education lessons are taught using the agreed Cheshire East Syllabus 2022, but bespoke to Cledford. Christianity is the chosen religion for study. Judaism, Islam and Hinduism beliefs are also taught throughout the school and compared with non-religions such as Humanism. Lessons are planned to demonstrate progression and children recap and build on their prior knowledge. All religions are treated with the same respect and value and children are encouraged to share their own experiences and be insightful to others. Religious Education at Cledford does not compromise the integrity of a child’s own religious position but simply develops their knowledge and educates them on the beliefs of others in the pluralistic society that we live in. The Religious Education curriculum is balance of theology, philosophy and human and social sciences to encourage children to think in a variety of different ways. To achieve a balanced curriculum, it is organised into 6 key threads: Authority, God the world and self, Personal Belief, Marking Life’s Journey, Belonging and Religious/non-religious Worldview in the Wider World. Throughout the study of all religions, artefacts, story-telling, drama, the exploration of sacred texts and visits with a religious focus are used to engage learners. On a daily basis, children also participate in collective worship which promotes positive and respectful attitudes. During these sessions, children have a focus to think, talk or even sing about with their peers. Through this collective worship, children are able to ask respectful questions to further their understanding and again, build up a tolerance of the diverse community and world in which  we live.

Impact

At Cledford, we ensure that all pupils are educated to develop spiritually, academically, emotionally and morally and are supported in their learning. Our Religious Education curriculum extends a child’s knowledge and understanding of different religions and non-religions, develops an understanding of religious vocabulary, allows them to apply a range of knowledge and facts, reflect upon a variety of questions of meaning, while offering their own sensitive and informed insights, and to appreciate and understand the ways in which people worship. Here at Cledford, we pride ourselves in our pupils gaining a better understanding of themselves and others and to cope with the challenges and responsibilities of living in a forever changing, multicultural world.

Our Religious Education curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression. If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress and meeting end of key stage statements. The impact of the curriculum is also measured through the following methods: a reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes, pupil discussions about their learning, work scrutinies and lesson observations

Our curriculum plans in religious education are clear on what end points the pupils are working towards and what pupils will need to be able to know and do at those end points.

The Religious Education curriculum is planned and sequenced so that new knowledge and skills build on what has  been taught before, and towards end of key stage statements.

The Religious Education curriculum reflects the school’s local context by addressing typical gaps in pupils’ knowledge and skills.

The religious education curriculum is broad and creatively linked to other subjects, with an emphasis on English skills.