Religious Education
Intent
Our intent is that children are taught Religious Education consistently, in order for children to discover about the world and the people around them, with an invitational opportunity to experience the love of God in Jesus Christ. Children will develop their own sense of personal worth, and effectively portray the values of our school vision: respect, hope, faith, love, confidence and growing together. Children will explore their individuality and appreciate differences between people. They will have a secure knowledge of their own faith and questions they want to explore as well as being able to identify what others believe and why. They will be able to compare religions through various factors and have respect for everyone, regardless of faith or background. Although we link Religious Education to other subjects, when we teach an RE lesson we are explicit at the start that the lesson they are about to do is R.E, which stands for Religious Education. This ensures that children understand the difference between cross-curricular links and specific teaching about religions and non-religious worldviews.. They will have awe and wonder at the artefacts and places that we explore linked to religion and wish to discover even more about the festivals, stories and symbols they have learnt about, thus promoting curiosity for future learning. We will have internal and external opportunities for expression of their own beliefs and learning through faith.
Implementation
RE is taught on a two year rolling program, consisting of six separate topics each year. This program consists of a combination of the ‘Wakefield Agreed Syllabus’ and ‘Understanding Christianity’ to meet the needs of all learners. We follow the non-statutory guidance of the government (2010) as well as the SIAMS framework that applies to Christian schools. These cover, both the areas of Christianity to explore as well as teaching about other faiths and non-religious worldviews. Our two year cycle ensures that all learners have equality of learning regardless of which class they are in. All religions are taught throughout the Key Stages and build on from previous learning. This ensures there is progression in children’s’ disciplinary, substantive and personal knowledge within RE. Children are exposed to a progression of vocabulary through key words taught based on religious learning. We develop the skills of compare and contrast as well as supporting their opinions by explaining why, encouraging deeper thinking, exploring ‘wonderings’ and supporting reflections. When possible we also link religious education to the other topics/ subjects being explored. We aim to use art work and the expressive arts when teaching RE so that children can express their ideas in a variety of ways.
Impact
At St Giles, the impact of an inspirational and innovative RE education, which is underpinned by a deeply Christian ethos, ensures that learners develop confidence, embrace creativity and enhance their disciplinary, substantive and personal knowledge. This ensures that they enter the wider community and ultimately the world, as well-rounded individuals who have an empathetic understanding of a plethora of religions and worldviews. This, together with a strong sense of self and their place in the world allows all our children to flourish.
Inclusion
We aim to give all our pupils the opportunity to succeed and reach the highest level of personal achievement: to promote the individuality of all our pupils, irrespective of ethnicity, attainment, age, disability, gender or background. Our school works closely with parents to ensure that the beliefs of all children are respected in school in regards to worship and lessons being taught.
