At Redhill Primary Academy, we have designed our R.E. curriculum with the intent that our children will become resilient, accepting, considerate and inquisitive learners. Our R.E. curriculum allows children to discover and gain an insight into religions within the community, and the wider world, that we live in. The teaching of R.E. is vital for children to understand others’ beliefs and make connections between their own values. It is our role to ensure pupils are being inquisitive; through high quality experiences pupils are able to ask questions about the world around them.
Our belief is that, by using an enquiry-based model, children’s critical thinking skills can be developed; their motivation to learn increased; and their empathy with people and their beliefs, religious or otherwise, will be enhanced. This approach takes very seriously the philosophy that children are free to make their own choices and decisions concerning religion and belief. RE does not try to persuade, but rather to inform and develop the skills with which evaluation can take place.
We will deliver a curriculum that:
Through RE, children are able to embed our whole school values e.g. respecting others’ beliefs and faiths; having a responsibility as a global citizen and/or a believer towards caring of our planet.
The R.E. curriculum will follow the Telford Agreed Syllabus, in conjunction with the Understanding Christianity programme. In each year group, pupils study 2 areas of the RE curriculum in depth and acquire a range of detailed knowledge of different concepts and ideas, which they remember long term. Drawing on this prior knowledge enables them to consider more complex ideas about religion. This ‘depth of study’ is selected from contrasting religious traditions so that pupils avoid developing misrepresentations. Teachers will use retrieval practices and informal assessment to systematically build up understanding over time in order to create a ‘progression curriculum’. In RE, assessment does not exist as a separate entity but is part of the process of learning.All RE lessons start with retrieval practices to recall prior substantive learning so that new knowledge and skills can be built upon what has been taught before. R.E. Lessons will build upon prior learning and develop skills year upon year so that pupils have an opportunity to learn ABOUT religions as well as FROM religions. The lessons covers 3 different types of subject-specific knowledge that pupils learn in RE. Each of these is powerful and should not be confused with ‘mere facts’. The first is ‘substantive’ knowledge about various religious and non-religious traditions. The second type is ‘ways of knowing’, where pupils learn ‘how to know’ about religion and non-religion. The third type is ‘personal knowledge’, where pupils build an awareness of their own presuppositions and values about what they study.The Early Years will focus on Christianity and in addition, will explore other festivals. In KS1, children will be taught about Christianity plus Sikhism. In Years 3 & 4, children will build upon their prior learning as well as learn about Hinduism. In Years 5 & 6, along with building upon previous learning, pupils will learn about Islam. We will provide our pupils the opportunity to reflect upon their own beliefs and identify similarities and differences between different faiths. We will also provide them with a safe environment where personal beliefs are shared and respected and where pupils can show appreciation for diverse worldviews.The R.E. curriculum is led and overseen by our R.E. subject leader who will monitor, evaluate, review and celebrate good practice.To view our subject overview for RE, please click here.