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Bandon Hill Primary School

RE

Intent

Part of the broad, balanced curriculum here at Bandon Hill Primary School is the teaching of Religious Education (RE). We believe that all children, from any faith or culture, should feel welcomed into our school community and this is fostered through the learning and exposure to a variety of religions and worldviews.

Our school follows the Discovery RE scheme of work, which fosters an enquiry-based approach to our RE learning. This scheme of work is in line with the Sutton Agreed Syllabus for the teaching of RE.

With these aspirations, our intent for the RE curriculum are:

  • To know about and understand a range of religions and worldviews.
  • To express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and worldviews.
  • To gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and worldviews.
  • To respect ideas and religions which may differ to our own.
  • To have opportunities to gain cultural capital both within school and in the local community.

Through our curriculum and Bandon Hill, we hope for children to develop a secure understanding of the knowledge and concepts surrounding RE as well as developing positive attitudes to cultures and beliefs which vary from their own.

RE lessons provide opportunities for rich discussion, reflection and personal experiences and interpretations are shared. Children have the opportunities to ask questions and lessons include role-play, art, music, hot seating and promote a knowledge and understanding of the world. 

Implementation

Our RE curriculum follows the Sutton Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (produced by the Sutton Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE), where children learn about different religions and beliefs. Bandon Hill uses a scheme called ‘Discovery RE’ to ensure that we are teaching about a multitude of religions that are revisited throughout the Key Stages to enable a progression of learning across the school. Discovery RE ensures even and thorough coverage of the key religions as set out in the Sutton Agreed Syllabus. The Discovery RE model advocates an enquiry-based approach (recommended by Ofsted in “Religious Education: Realising the Potential” 201d) which a 4 step approach as the basis for implementation. Each enquiry unit is based around a key question. The key question for the enquiry is such that it demands an answer that weighs up ‘evidence’ (subject knowledge) and reaches a conclusion based on this. This necessitates children using their subject knowledge and applying it to the enquiry question, rather than this knowledge being an end in itself. Discovery RE focusses on critical thinking skills, on personal reflection in to the child’s own thought and feeling, on growing subject knowledge and nurturing spiritual development,.

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). Religious Education is taught on a weekly basis in each year group. 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. Artefacts are used regularly to bring the teaching of Religious Education to life. 

In Early Years the children spend time exploring the religions of Christianity and Hinduism in the first two terms. The children think about the celebrated festivals in the Christian calendar, linking this to Hindu celebrations, particularly Diwali. The final term brings this together with exploring special stories and places of a multitude of religions.

Years One and Two build upon this teaching as the children look in more depth at what Christians believe - the children take time to ask ‘Big Questions’ and make connections across religions. The children also learn about Judaism in Year One and are introduced to Islam in Year Two. The Sutton syllabus content in Key Stage 1 is covered through the following areas: Key people; Sacred Writings; Places and Festivals

Key Stage Two builds upon the learning of Christianity, Sikhism, Judaism and Islam with the addition of Hinduism in Year Three. The children are encouraged to think critically and ask questions of a religion as each half term focuses on a ‘Big Question’.

Impact

Religious Education at Bandon Hill encourages pupils to 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 and develop their sense of identity and belonging in the world, preparing them for life as citizens in a multi-cultural global society. We ensure all children develop respect for and sensitivity to others, in particular those whose faiths and beliefs are different from their own.

Regular assemblies and celebrations of religious and non-religious festivals and events, implemented alongside weekly R.E. lessons, help the children at Bandon Hill to celebrate the diversity of the wider community in Sutton, including their beliefs, traditions, culture, language and history.

By the end of KS1 children will be able to:

  • Recall and name different beliefs and practises.
  • Retell and suggest meanings to some religious and moral stories.
  • Recognise different symbols and actions linked with religious communities.
  • Ask and respond to questions.
  • Observe and recount different ways of expressing identity and belonging.
  • Notice and respond sensitively to similarities between religions and worldviews.
  • Explore questions about belonging, meaning and truth.
  • Find out about examples of cooperation between people who are different.
  • Find out about questions of right and wrong.

By the end of KS2 children will be able to:

  • Describe and make connections about different religions and worldviews.
  • Describe and understand links between stories and other aspects of different communities.
  • Explore different beliefs, symbols and actions.
  • Observe and understand varied examples of religions and worldviews.
  • Understand challenges of commitment to a community of faith.
  • Spot similarities and differences.
  • Discuss and present thoughtfully their own views.
  • Consider how diverse communities can live together.
  • Research and answer ethical questions.

Useful websites

EYFS:

Celebrating Diversity- https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/watch/cbeebies-house-celebrating-differences

Everyone's Welcome- https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/everyones-welcome

KS1 and KS2:

Bitesize-https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zxnygk7

BBC Religion- http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion

RE Lessons online- https://www.natre.org.uk/primary/re-at-primary-level/