At Valence 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.
Intent
At Valence 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.
Religious Education has a significant role for the development of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. It 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.
The aim of Religious Education in our school is to help children to:
- To acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of all the principal religions represented in our local area and 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.
- Enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
We use the New Agreed Syllabus (2019) for Religious Education developed by Newham SACRE as the basis for our curriculum. All religions and their communities are treated with respect and sensitivity At Valence Primary, we value the links, which are, and can be made between home, school, and a faith community.
Religious Education is also taught throughout the school in such a way that it reflects the overall aims, values, and philosophy of the school, through topics such as Justice and Freedom, and Heroes and Heroines in everyday life.
Religious Education plays an important role, along with all other curriculum areas, and in supporting our Rights Respecting initiative to promote 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 Great 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, independence and enjoyment.
Implementation
Based on the Syllabus, the following religions have been selected for study:
- Christianity
- Islam
- Judaism
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Sikhism
From the Agreed Syllabus, it is required that;
In the Early Years Foundation Stage (ages three to five), the children explore a range of RE-related activities that follow three themes:
- celebrating special times
- stories and what they tell us
- aspects of identity and relationships.
As children explore these themes across their time in EYFS they are encouraged to think about two big questions
- What is special to me?
- What is special to me and others?
At Key Stage 1 (ages 5 - 7), Christianity is studied and one other principal religion in depth the children explore these big questions
- Year 1 - What does it mean to belong?
- Year 2 - What can we learn from special stories?
At Key Stage 2 (ages 7 - 11), Christianity is studied and one other principal religion in depth the children explore these big questions
- Year 3 - How are symbols and sayings important in religion?
- Year 4 - What is important to people in my local community?
- Year 5 - What impact do beliefs have on actions?
- Year 6 - How important are the similarities and differences between and within religions and worldviews?
Right to withdraw
At Valence, religious education is taught as an engaging, inclusive and enquiry-led subject, open to all and at the centre of the curriculum, and we would hope that all parents would understand the value of this for all children. However, parents do have a right by law to withdraw their children from Religious Education lessons, please contact the school office to withdraw your child from religious education.
