Religious Education

'RE is like and iceberg. As you unpack ideas, you seem to understand deeper meaning.'  Unknown

RE explores big questions about life, in order to find out what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can make sense of religion and worldviews, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living

Aims of Religious Education

1. Know about and understand a range of religions and world views , so that they can:

• describe, explain and analyse beliefs and practices, recognising the diversity which exists within and between communities and amongst individuals

• identify, investigate and respond to questions posed, and responses, offered by some of the sources found in religions and worldviews

 • appreciate and appraise the nature, significance and impact of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning.

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2. Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and worldviews, so that they can:

• explain reasonably their ideas about how beliefs, practices and forms of expression influence individuals and communities

• express with increasing discernment their personal reflections and critical responses to questions and teachings about identity, diversity, meaning and value, including ethical issues

 • appreciate and appraise varied dimensions of religion. 

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3. Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and worldviews, so that they can:

 • find out about and investigate key concepts and questions of belonging, meaning, purpose and truth, responding creatively

• enquire into what enables different individuals and communities to live together respectfully for the wellbeing of all

• articulate beliefs, values and commitments clearly in order to explain why they may be important in their own and other people’s lives

RE can make a key educational contribution to pupils’ explorations of British values, and excellent teaching of RE can enable pupils to learn to think for themselves about them.

 Religious Education lessons offer opportunities to build an accurate knowledge-base about religions and beliefs in relation to values.

This in turn supports children and young people so that they are able to move beyond attitudes of tolerance towards increasing respect, so that they can celebrate diversity.

Values education and moral development are a part of a school’s holistic mission to contribute to the wellbeing of each pupil and of all people within our communities.

The RE curriculum focuses learning in some of these areas, but pupils’ moral development is a whole-school focus through the Harmony Pledge, PSHE, assemblies, enrichment and celebrations.