Intent
At Bathford Church School we believe the Religious Education curriculum should enable every child to flourish and to live life in all its fullness. (John 10:10)
We believe that it is important for all our pupils to learn from and about religion, so that they can understand the world and people around them and become caring, responsible global citizens. The aim of Religious Education in our school is to enable children to know about and understand Christianity as a living faith that influences the lives of people worldwide and as the religion that has most shaped British culture and heritage. It is also to enable pupils to know and understand other world religions; to appreciate the way that religious beliefs shape life and behaviour; to develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues and to enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
As a Church of England school, Religious Education plays an important role in promoting the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of our children. Strong links are made with our school Vision of ‘Grow, Care, Serve, Share’ which frames our curriculum. We aim to help our children to grow by equipping them with the knowledge, skills and values they need both to make sense of the world and to become caring, responsible global citizens.
3 overarching themes link the children’s learning to our vision and embed Equality and Diversity into our curriculum. Cross curricular topics link to these themes, inspiring our children to care about their learning. Our overarching themes are Identity and Diversity, Social Justice and Equity and Sustainable Development.
Religious Education plays a vital role, along with all other curriculum areas, particularly PSHE, in promoting social awareness and understanding in our children. We encourage our pupils to ask questions about the world and its people and to reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences. We include and promote British values, ensuring that children are aware of their rights and responsibilities as UK citizens.
Implementation
We follow the BWMAT Religious Education policy
We use a teaching resource called, ‘Understanding Christianity’ to teach children about Christian beliefs, texts, practices and their impact on individuals and communities. Christianity is central to the RE curriculum as a living, diverse faith and through Understanding Christianity children develop a comprehensive understanding of Christianity.
We use a scheme of learning called, ‘Kapow’ to teach children about world religions and world views. Children explore diverse religions and worldviews with respect.
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, children begin to explore the world of religion and belief in terms of special people, books, times, places and objects, visiting places of worship and through celebration. Children listen to and talk about stories. They are introduced to specialist words and use their senses in exploring religious beliefs, practices and forms of expression. They reflect upon their own feelings and experiences. They use their imagination and curiosity to develop their appreciation and wonder of the world in which they live. Religious Education is taught through planned purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activity.
There are no presumptions made as to the religious backgrounds and beliefs and values of the children and the staff. We value the religious background of all members of the school community and hope that this will encourage individuals to share their own experiences with others. All religions and their communities are treated with respect and sensitivity and we value the links, which can and are forged between home, school and a faith community. We are extremely lucky that members of the local church, St Swithun’s, regularly visit our school to carry out assemblies.
We acknowledge that each religion studied can contribute to the education of all our pupils. We promote teaching in Religious Education that stresses open enquiry and first-hand experiences wherever possible for both staff and children.
Children are engaged in critical thinking and reflection and encouraged to articulate their own beliefs and values while respecting those of others.
Our long term plan for RE across the school is as follows:
Impact
The children at Bathford Church School enjoy learning about Christianity and other religions and why people have faith and choose, or choose not, to follow a religion. Progress in Religious Education is significant and attainment is high, enabling pupils to develop confident religious literacy. Through their learning in Religious Education, children are able to make links between their own lives and those of others in their community and in the wider world, developing an understanding of other people’s beliefs, cultures and ways of life. They are articulate in sharing their own beliefs and values while respecting those of others.