RE

Intent

At Hoo St Werburgh Primary School, we deliver an enquiry-based curriculum that will engage our children, and leave them curious about religions and beliefs. Our curriculum will ensure our children become resilient, are equipped with both the knowledge and understanding of religions and world views, and are accepting of others’ views. This will prepare our children for the diverse world in which they live. As our children progress through the school, from EYFS to KS2, they will develop their levels of religious literacy and conceptual understanding; be able to articulate, with confidence, their ideas about religion, beliefs and spirituality; and change their minds, if they choose to do so. Our intent is not to make pupils into believers, but to help them become literate and articulate about religions and beliefs, becoming thoughtful members of society as a result. With RE being an integral part of our curriculum we recognise the importance it has on promoting equality and understanding of the British values and ensuring that our children are prepared for life. From each child’s entry point, the curriculum we provide allows them to develop their knowledge and understanding of a range of religious and traditions, and encourages them to explore their own beliefs (whether they are religious or non-religious)

Implementation

Our school follows the Medway SACRE agreed syllabus for Religious Education, utilising Discovery RE for its delivery and planning. In EYFS the Discovery RE scheme encourages children to use their imagination and curiosity, through planned, purposeful play, to develop their appreciation and wonder of the world in which they live. Children encounter religions and worldviews through exploration of special people, books, times, places and objects. Carefully planned progression within and across units means this exploration continues as children move through the school, allowing them to make meaningful progress as they move through the Key Stages. RE at Hoo St Werburgh is taught by class teachers who take responsibility for resourcing and delivering the curriculum. To ensure consistency, each class receives the equivalent of an hour RE teaching per week. Acts of collective worship, promoting the school values of Courage, Confidence, Respect and Belonging are held either in class or in the form of a key stage assembly. In addition to this, class teachers plan visits to places of worship, giving children first-hand experiences as well as the opportunity to meet people from different faith communities.

Impact

The impact of teaching and learning RE is monitored through lesson observations, pupil interviews and the scrutiny of work. Pupils record learning in a floor book which travels through the school with them, readily promoting links to prior learning and aids retrieval. In addition, end of unit assessments enable teachers to understand what has been remembered and use this information to inform planning and make teacher assessments. As a result of our enquiry-based curriculum and robust assessment, the majority of children will reach at least the expected level of attainment. Our curriculum allows children to leave Hoo St Werburgh with a developed knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and worldviews; be able to articulate their ideas about the nature; significance and impact of these; and reflect on their beliefs and ways of living.