Religious Education
Vision
Our vision is to make RE relevant and inclusive. We will providing a wide range of experiences and knowledge from a variety of faiths and world views to enable children to articulate clearly and coherently explain their personal beliefs, ideas, values and experiences while respecting the right of others to differ. We aim to build a sense of self, identity and belonging, which will help them flourish within their community and widen their experiences to thrive as contributing citizens in a diverse culture. Our RE curriculum will teach pupils to develop respect for others, no matter their faith, belief or perspective, challenging prejudice and encouraging empathy and compassion.
We follow the Local Authority’s Agreed syllabus for Religion and Worldviews introduced in 2022
Purpose and aims of Religious Education (RE)
RE contributes dynamically to children and young people’s education in schools by:
· provoking challenging questions about meaning and purpose in life, beliefs about God, ultimate reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human.
· learn about and from religions and worldviews in local, national and global contexts, to discover, explore and consider different answers to these questions.
· to weigh up the value of wisdom from different sources, to develop and express their insights in response, and to agree or disagree respectfully.
Teaching therefore should equip pupils with systematic knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and worldviews, enabling them to develop their ideas, values and identities. It should develop in pupils an aptitude for dialogue so that they can participate positively in our society with its diverse religions and worldviews. Pupils should gain and deploy the skills needed to understand, interpret and evaluate texts, sources of wisdom and authority and other evidence.
Local Authority Agreed syllabus 2022
What is an education in religion and worldviews?
• Worldviews will be diverse, religious or non-religious and may change dependent on time, place and context
• Pupils need to learn about the major religions of the world and non-religious traditions including such as Humanism. They need to understand some of the big ideas or concepts underpinning these worldviews, as well as to appreciate the influence they may have on individuals, communities and societies
• Pupils must learn about the different ways in which people study these traditions, as well as build an awareness of and reflect on their own personal worldview.
We strive to enable pupils to view the world through 3 different perspectives (lenses:
1. Theological
2. Social sciences
3. Philosophical
The curriculum for RE aims to ensure that all pupils develop religious literacy through
Knowing about and understanding a range of religions and worldviews, learning to see these through the disciplines of Theology, Philosophy and Social Sciences
Expressing ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religion and worldviews through a multidisciplinary approach whilst engaging critically with them
Gaining and deploying skills taken from the disciplines of Theology, Philosophy and Social Sciences to enhance learning about religions and different worldviews.
[Adapted from Georgiou, G. (Lincoln Diocesan Board of Education), Seymour, O. (Diocese of York) & Wright, K.]
Aims of RE
The curriculum for RE aims to ensure that all pupils:
Know about and understand a range of religions and worldviews, so that they can
· describe, explain and analyse beliefs and practices, recognising the diversity which exists within and between communities and amongst individuals
· identify, investigate and respond to questions posed, and responses offered by some of the sources of wisdom found in religions and worldviews
· appreciate and appraise the nature, significance and impact of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning.
Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and worldviews, so that they can
· explain reasonably their ideas about how beliefs, practices and forms of expression influence individuals and communities
· express with increasing discernment their personal reflections and critical responses to questions and teachings about identity, diversity, meaning and value, including ethical issues
· appreciate and appraise varied dimensions of religion or a worldview.
Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and worldviews, so that they can
· find out about and investigate key concepts and questions of belonging, meaning, purpose and truth, responding creatively
· enquire into what enables different individuals and communities to live together respectfully for the wellbeing of all
· articulate beliefs, values and commitments clearly in order to explain why they may be important in their own and other people’s lives.
Our teaching follows the Enquiry cycle:
