Religious Education – RE  at Thomas Jolyffe Primary School

Meet our wonderful RE ambassadors!

The Intent, Implementation and Impact of our Curriculum – R.E.

INTENT

At Thomas Jolyffe Primary School, we believe that it is important for all our pupils to learn from and about religion, so that they can understand the world around them. The aim of Religious Education in our school is to help children to acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and the other principal religions represented in Great Britain; to appreciate the way that religious beliefs shape life and behaviour, develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues and enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Religious Education is taught throughout the school in such a way as to reflect the overall aims, values, and philosophy of the school, through topics such as ‘What makes a place sacred?’ and ‘How and why do we celebrate special and sacred times?’

It plays an important role, along with all other curriculum areas, particularly PSHE, in promoting social awareness and understanding in our children. We encourage our pupils to ask questions about the world and to reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences. We include and promote British values, ensuring that children are aware of their rights and responsibilities as UK citizens.

Our curriculum is designed to encourage creativity, imagination, enquiry, debate, discussion and independence.

IMPLEMENTATION

Our objectives are taken from the Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education developed by the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) for Coventry and Warwickshire as the basis for our curriculum. Lessons are planned carefully to ensure progression of skills and knowledge across school and discrete lessons are spread throughout the course of the year, interspersed with acknowledging different religious festivals and significant days through assemblies, themed days and in-class conversations. At Thomas Jolyffe we use a variety of religious symbols, ornaments and artefacts to enhance children’s understanding. We build knowledge on children's prior learning and encouraging them to share their religious beliefs and experiences. All religions and their communities are treated with respect and sensitivity and we acknowledge that each religion studied can contribute to the education of all our pupils.  We promote teaching in Religious Education that stresses open enquiry and first-hand experiences wherever possible for both staff and children. 

IMPACT

The impact of the RE curriculum, that we deliver, aims for the children to be exposed to and to have an increased understanding of different religions so that they:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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 well-being 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.

The children at Thomas Jolyffe Primary School enjoy learning about other religions and why people choose, or choose not to follow a religion. Through their R.E. learning, 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. As such, R.E. is invaluable in an ever changing and shrinking world.

Mrs V Woodhead - Religious Education Leader