What is Religious Education?

“Religious education has an important place in the curriculum of all schools. It provides a space for learning about people, about cultures and faiths and also relationships, tolerance, understanding and appreciation of others’ beliefs and values.” (The Pan-Berkshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education 2018-2023)

“Alongside the subject’s contribution to pupils’ mental, cognitive and linguistic development, RE offers distinctive opportunities to promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.” (National Association of Teachers of Religious Education)

Religious Education is learning about and from different religions and world views to better understand the society and world that we all live in to promote understanding, tolerance and acceptance. 

Intent

At Calcot Schools, we believe that it is important for all our pupils to learn from and about religion, to help them to understand the world around them. RE 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. Through our RE curriculum, we aim for our children to be resilient, accepting, mindful and inquisitive learners. 

Implementation

Calcot Schools delivers RE in line with the Pan-Berkshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education 2018-2023. By following Discovery RE, Calcot Schools ensures that our children know about and understand a range of religions and world views, are able to express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and world views, and gain and use the skills needed to engage with religions and world views.

We do this through enquiry based learning of the following world religions,

• Christianity
• Islam
• Judaism
• Hindu Dharma
• Sikhi

Every year group studies Christianity and at least one other world religion. For each term, there is a key question related to the religion being studied that weighs up ‘evidence’ and reaches a conclusion based on this. Children will use their subject knowledge and apply it to the key question, rather than this knowledge being an end in itself. Through critical thinking, personal reflection into their own thoughts and feelings, and their growing subject knowledge, the children of Calcot Schools will develop an understanding of the different religions and world views that will promote understanding, tolerance and acceptance in the society and world that we live in.

Foundation Stage

In Foundation Stage, children will be introduced to the idea that people believe that certain places, books, stories and people are special and that they do things to show that they are special. They will do this through Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hindu Dharma and Sikhi.

Key Stage 1

In Year 1, children will look more closely at the practices and beliefs of Christianity and Judaism. They will consider beliefs relating to looking after the world, friendship, and relationships with God.

In Year 2, children will develop further their understanding of Christianity and Islam. They will consider beliefs relating to kindness, relationships with God and different practises such as prayer and pilgrimage.

Key Stage 2

In Year 3, the children will continue to learn about Christianity and will also learn about Hindu Dharma. They will consider beliefs relating to a sense of belonging, the nature of God and special places.

In Year 4, the children will continue to learn about Christianity and will look at Judaism. They will consider beliefs relating to forgiveness, showing commitment and the importance of special places.

In Year 5, the children will continue to learn about Christianity and Sikhi. They will consider beliefs relating to commitment to God, the truth and importance of stories and leading good lives.

In Year 6, the children will continue to learn about Christianity and Islam. They will consider beliefs related to showing commitment to God, leading good lives and the significance of religion today.

 Impact

• The children at Calcot Schools enjoy learning about other religions and why people choose, or choose not to follow a religion. Through RE, the children are able to make links between their own lives and those of others in their community and in the wider world, developing an understanding of other people’s cultures and ways of life. Through this, Calcot children are informed and knowledgeable about the world around them, leading to a more understanding and compassionate future.