Religious Education

INTENT

Religious education at St Peter and St Paul Church of England Primary Academy and Nursery aims to develop children’s understanding about the world’s religions and cultures. Our pupils learn about the variety of religions in the world to increase their awareness and understanding of different cultures and faiths. We teach using an approach that enables children to understand what drives people of faith to live the way they do.

Our aims and objectives are:

• To know about and understand Christianity as a diverse global living faith through the exploration of core beliefs using an approach that critically engages with biblical text.

• To gain knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and worldviews appreciating diversity, continuity and change within the religions and worldviews being studied.

• To engage with challenging questions of meaning and purpose raised by human existence and experience.

• To recognise the concept of religion and its continuing influence on Britain’s cultural heritage and in the lives of individuals and societies in different times, cultures and places.

• To explore their own religious, spiritual and philosophical ways living, believing and thinking.

IMPLEMENTATION

Legal requirements for Religious Education:

Religious Education is a statutory subject of the curriculum for all pupils in each year group and ‘should be provided for all registered pupils except those withdrawn at the request of their parents.’ (s 71 SSFA 1998)

Parents have the right to request that their child be excused from all or part of the RE provided at school.

The syllabus should ‘reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian, while taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain.’ (s375 (3) Education Act 1996)

We ensure that we comply with the legal requirements by following the Norfolk Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education and Understanding Christianity: Text, Impact, and Connections.

Religious Education is generally taught on a weekly basis, but is sometimes delivered through a class topic or as a whole-school RE day.

Lessons are planned and delivered in a variety of ways ensuring that all children can access and participate in lessons. Interactive, practical activities encourage the children to discuss their ideas and extend their understanding of difficult concepts and challenging questions.

Pupils’ progress in RE is based on the expected outcomes outlined in the Agreed Syllabus and in Understanding Christianity, which in turn have been developed in line with guidance produced nationally.

We track individual pupil’s progress in this way, whilst also bearing in mind that the statements do not cover all aspects of teaching and learning in RE. For example, pupil’s personal views and ideas are not subject to formal assessment, and yet are central to good RE.

Progress in RE is reported annually to parents and has a prominent position in the end of year report.

IMPACT

Religious Education at St Peter and St Paul Church of England Primary Academy and Nursery develops pupils'

knowledge and understanding of, and their ability to respond to, Christianity, other principal world religions, other religious traditions and world views;
understanding and respect for different religions, beliefs, values and traditions (including ethical life stances), through exploring issues within and between faiths;
understanding of the influence of faith and belief on individuals, societies, communities and cultures;
skills of enquiry and response through the use of religious vocabulary, questioning and empathy;
skills of reflection, expression, application, analysis and evaluation of beliefs, values and practices, and the communication of personal responses to these.

Religious Education at St Peter and St Paul Church of England Primary Academy and Nursery encourages pupils to

consider challenging questions of the meaning and purpose of life; beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human;
understand the influence of religion on individuals, families, communities and cultures;
learn from different religions, beliefs, values and traditions while exploring questions of meaning and their own beliefs;
learn about religious and ethical teaching, enabling them to make reasoned and informed responses to religious, moral and social issues;
develop their sense of identity and belonging, preparing them for life as citizens in a plural, global society;
develop respect for and sensitivity to others, in particular those whose faiths and beliefs are different from their own.

Religious Education at St Peter and St Paul Church of England Primary Academy and Nursery enhances pupils'

awareness and understanding of religions and beliefs, teachings, practices and forms of expression;
ability to reflect on, consider, analyse, interpret and evaluate issues of truth, belief, faith and ethics and to communicate their responses.

Religious Education at St Peter and St Paul Church of England Primary Academy and Nursery offers

opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development.

We were awarded the REQM Silver award in March 2022.