RE

Intent

The aim of RE at Walton is to develop a child’s understanding and awareness of world religions, in particular Christianity to inspire their curiosity and fascination about them. The RE Curriculum at Walton ensures that children are exposed to a range of religions, stories, cultures and to fully engage with them. This engagement strives to ensure all children are enjoying, developing and understanding their own level of spirituality through a range of experiences such as hands on learning, having visitors and going to educational places of worship

Implementation 

Legal requirements for Religious Education:

Religious Education is a statutory subject of the curriculum for all pupils in each year group and ‘should be provided for all registered pupils except those withdrawn at the request of their parents.’ (s 71 SSFA 1998). The syllabus should ‘reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian, while taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain.’ (s375 (3) Education Act 1996) We ensure that we comply with the legal requirements by following the Derbyshire Agreed Syllabus and Understanding Christianity: Text, Impact, and Connections. Religious Education is taught on a weekly basis. Teachers follow Understanding Christianity and the Derbyshire Agreed Syllabus (for other religions). The long term plan for RE ensures that children receive 4 Christianity units and 2 other units per year.

Lessons are planned and delivered in a variety of ways ensuring that all children can access and participate in lessons. Interactive, practical activities encourage the children to discuss their ideas and extend their understanding of difficult concepts and challenging questions.

Understanding Christianity.

The key purpose of these materials is to support pupils in developing their understanding of Christianity, as a contribution to their understanding of the world and their own experience within it. It does this by integrating pupils’ developing understanding of significant theological concepts within Christianity with their own self-understanding and understanding of the world, as part of their wider religious literacy.

Derbyshire Agreed Syllabus

The Derbyshire and Derby city Agreed Syllabus for RE The school uses the Derbyshire and Derby city Agreed Syllabus for RE.

The syllabus has four purposes:

1. to establish an entitlement

2. to establish standards

3. to promote continuity and coherence

4. to promote public understanding.

We use the Understanding Christianity scheme as a core part of the curriculum to teach Christianity. We teach other religions using the Derbyshire and Derby City Agreed Syllabus. Through our delivery of the Derbyshire Agreed Syllabus for RE and the Understanding Christianity scheme, we aim that our children will:

- Work with others, listening to each other’s ideas, and treat others with respect;

- Have opportunities to consider their own experiences, attitudes and values, and those of other people;

- Develop respect for evidence and critically evaluate ideas that may or may not fit the evidence available;

- Identify puzzling questions and suggest answers; 

- Develop their understanding of why certain things are held to be right or wrong;

- Relate to moral and religious issues.

Strategies

Planning Teachers use the Derbyshire and Derby City Agreed Syllabus resources as a basis for their planning. The units are monitored as to coverage by different year groups in mixed age classes. Use of understanding Christianity.

Grouping

Religious Education is taught largely to classes with differentiated, individual or group tasks following whole class teaching – although we may have a whole school focus upon a theme – Chinese New Year, World Religion Day, Prayer week, for example, when the school works together.

Recording

Children’s work is usually in response to input based around themes. Work is not always written or pictorial – it may take the form of a discussion and/or drama. Work is recorded in children’s RE books.

Assessment and progression

Pupils’ progress and attainment in RE is based on the expected outcomes outlined in the Agreed Syllabus and in Understanding Christianity, which in turn have been developed in line with guidance produced nationally. We track individual pupil’s progress in this way, whilst also bearing in mind that the statements do not cover all aspects of teaching and learning in RE. For example, pupil’s personal views and ideas are not subject to formal assessment, and yet are central to good RE. We record these assessments using classroom monitor. Progress in RE is reported annually to parents and has a prominent position in the end of year report.

Impact

Religious Education at Walton develops pupils’…

• knowledge and understanding of, and their ability to respond to, Christianity, other principal world religions, other religious traditions and world views;

• understanding and respect for different religions, beliefs, values and traditions (including ethical life stances), through exploring issues within and between faiths;

• understanding of the influence of faith and belief on individuals, societies, communities and cultures;

• skills of enquiry and response through the use of religious vocabulary, questioning and empathy;

• skills of reflection, expression, application, analysis and evaluation of beliefs, values and practices, and the communication of personal responses to these.

Religious Education at Walton encourages pupils to…

• consider challenging questions of the meaning and purpose of life; beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human;

• understand the influence of religion on individuals, families, communities and cultures;

• learn from different religions, beliefs, values and traditions while exploring questions of meaning and their own beliefs;

• learn about religious and ethical teaching, enabling them to make reasoned and informed responses to religious, moral and social issues;

• develop their sense of identity and belonging, preparing them for life as citizens in a plural, global society;

• develop respect for and sensitivity to others, in particular those whose faiths and beliefs are different from their own.

Religious Education at Walton enhances pupils’…

• awareness and understanding of religions and beliefs, teachings, practices and forms of expression;

• ability to reflect on, consider, analyse, interpret and evaluate issues of truth, belief, faith and ethics and to communicate their responses.

Religious Education at Walton offers… • opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development