Religious Education
Together, as one, we support each other to flourish and succeed.
Intent Statement
At South Crosland C.E. (A) Junior School, Religious Education (R.E.) is a highly valued academic subject that provides our children with an understanding of belief, the practice that comes out of that belief and the impact that this has on the world in which we all live together. R.E. in our school supports children to:
- Learn about a range of religions and world-views, fostering respect and understanding and enabling tolerance whilst embracing a different stance.
- Develop religious and theological literacy through investigation of religious and non-religious beliefs, practices and values.
- Consider philosophical approaches to life’s big questions and the broader role of religion in society.
- Explore how different religions and world views are lived-out in the world through human and social sciences approaches.
- Develop critical and analytical skills through mixed year groupings (Years 3 and 4, Years 5 and 6).
- Be confident in who they are and what they believe in.
- Engage in meaningful and informed dialogue with those of different beliefs to equip them to live in a diverse and ever-changing world.
- Enhance their spiritual, social, emotional and cultural development.
- Promote British Values and ensure that children are aware of their rights and responsibilities as world citizens (UNICEF Rights of the Child).
- Encourage our children to ask big questions about the world and to reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences.
Implementation Statement
We use the Dioceses of Leeds and York Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education as the basis of our Religious Education Curriculum. This syllabus meets the expectations set out in the ‘Religious Education in Church of England Schools: A Statement of Entitlement’ (2019).
The Dioceses of Leeds and York Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education promotes broad and rich learning in R.E. through three core elements:
- Making sense of belief
- Understanding the impact
- Making Connections
Teaching and learning in the classroom will encompass all three elements, allowing for overlap between elements as suits the religion and world view, concept and question being explored.
R.E. is taught in lower and upper school groups in order to promote peer support; there is a one hour discrete lesson timetabled, each week. In addition, R.E. days, R.E. weeks and visits are used to deliver and enrich the R.E. Curriculum. Christianity forms the majority study in R.E. and forms at least 50% of curriculum time, in line with the ‘Religious Education in Church of England Schools: A Statement of Entitlement’ (2019). The resource Understanding Christianity is used to deliver the core teaching and learning for Christianity; lower school children undertake an in-depth study focusing on the religion of Sikhism whilst upper school children focus on Islam. Other religions and worldviews are taught as part of the R.E. curriculum alongside comparative units of work, which are taught to support children with comparing and contrasting.
Impact Statement
Our children are theologically literate and have an understanding of Christianity as a living and diverse faith. They are able to show an informed and respectful attitude to religions and worldviews in their search for meaning. Our children can engage in meaningful and informed dialogue with those of differing faiths and worldviews. They are able to reflect critically and responsibly on their own spiritual, philosophical and ethical convictions.
Assessment and Reporting
Formative assessment in Religious Education is ongoing and takes many forms, which may include: discussions with pupils; pupil responses, explanations and justification of thoughts, creative work and presentations.
Summative assessment occurs at the end of each unit of work and achievement and attitude to learning are reported on to parents and carers three times each year, as part of School Reporting Calendar (December, March and June).
Assessment information is kept by the Religious Education Subject Leader and shared with senior leaders.