Religious Education at Greave

Intent

Through our RE curriculum, we want our pupils to be respectful, knowledgeable and well-informed citizens of the future. We believe it is important that all pupils learn about different religions and world views so that they understand and respect the diverse world we live in. RE is taught throughout the school and supports the British values we instill in our pupils as well as reflecting our school values. We strive to encourage and support every pupil through an enquiry approach to their learning as it challenges pupils to question and stimulate their curiosity and understanding, leading to inquisitive learners. Throughout our pupil's journey through school, they will recognise different religions in their local community, as well as religious figures throughout history and look at religion in a global context. They will learn to research, question, and compare the information they discover. This will ensure our pupils are equipped with the skills and knowledge to be informed citizens as they prepare for their future when they step out in their own community but also into the big wide world.

Implement

Our RE curriculum is planned to follow the Stockport Local Authority RE scheme that has been agreed by SACRE, it aims to engage and enthuse learners through relevant and reflective themes, objectives and questions. The curriculum is planned and sequenced to allow pupils to build on their prior learning, which will lead to broadening their knowledge, providing a deeper understanding for them to use today, tomorrow and in the future. RE is taught through an enquiry based approach to learning. During our lessons, pupils are encouraged to ask questions as it allows them to use their creativity and imagination, in turn delving deeper into religious practices and worldly views. We want to equip our pupils to not only meet the requirements of our local SACRE but to prepare them for all opportunities, experiences and responsibilities in later life.

EYFS

In Early Years, RE is taught through our stimulating and engaging topics throughout the year. The most relevant and fitting statements for RE from the EYFS framework and from Development Matters; come under the area of learning of ‘Personal, Social and Emotional Development’ and ‘Understanding the World’.

Key Stage 1 and 2

In KS1, pupils are taught the knowledge, skills and understanding of different religions and world views. They begin to recognise different beliefs in their local community but also in the wider world. Pupils are encouraged to expand their thinking as they question and express their views in context to what they are studying. In KS2, pupils are taught to expand and extend their knowledge, skills and understanding through deeper enquiry and reflection. Pupils in Year 5 and Year 6 consider the impact of beliefs and practices in greater detail and respond to more philosophical questions. Pupils are supported to raise questions to broaden their knowledge as this encourages them to value different practices and interpret different religious beliefs.

Impact

Our RE curriculum;

Celebrates our community at Greave Primary School
Inspires creative learning through excellent teaching practices that build on prior knowledge
Embraces our local community but also celebrates the diverse world we live in
It is inclusive, develops self-confidence and identifies that all our children are unique and therefore we should all be tolerant of each other’s beliefs
Adaptive teaching is facilitated by teachers, to ensure that each pupil can access the RE curriculum
Promotes equality and understanding of British values
We promote cross-curriculum opportunities to enhance and elevate children's learning, through art, drama, music, dance, history, geography and debate/discussions

The impact of our inclusive curriculum will lead to positive development and progression of our pupil’s knowledge and skills in RE throughout their journey at Greave. Our pupils will be expected to leave Greave Primary reaching at least age-related expectations for RE and with a secure understanding and knowledge of different religions and world views. We want our engaging and enticing curriculum to ensure all pupils are confident, inquisitive and most of all respectful citizens.

Legal Requirement and Right to Withdraw

The right to withdraw from RE was introduced when the subject focused on religious instruction with a strong Christian influence. Today, RE is much broader and inclusive, providing an understanding of different religious beliefs and word views. However, in the UK, parents still have the legal right to withdraw their children from RE if they prefer to provide their own religious education (School Standards and Framework Act 1998 S71(3)). If a parent at Greave Primary School chooses to exercise this right, the responsibility for providing religious education will be theirs. However, we value the broad and balanced approach of our RE curriculum and encourage open discussions with parents to ensure they understand its aims and benefits before confirming the withdrawal.