RE ‘should explore the important role that religious and non-religious worldviews play in all human life. This is an essential area of study if pupils are to be well prepared for life in a world where controversy over such matters is pervasive and where many people lack the knowledge to make their own informed decisions. It is a subject for all pupils, whatever their own family background and personal beliefs and practices.’
Commission on RE, September 2018.
For our RE we use ‘Believing and Belonging’ which is the local agreed Syllabus for Religious Education within Calderdale. The aim of Religious Education in our school is to help children to acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of a range of religions represented in Great Britain; to appreciate the way that religious beliefs shape life and behaviour, develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues and enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
It plays an important 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 to reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences.
We teach RE weekly throughout our school. As well as this, throughout the calendar year, we ensure that we provide a variety of religions experiences to enhance each pupil’s religious education.
We make sure that we promote RE Special Days, key religious festivals are marked with special events in school. These opportunities to immerse ourselves in the traditional celebrations through drama, music, stories, food and art are another way to bring the learning alive.
The Christmas carol service at St Thomas’ Church is a well-loved event within the school calendar and children from Reception to Year 6 attend. Those in KS2 take an active role through readings, traditional music and the retelling of the Christmas Story. The event is always well-attended by the whole school community.
EYFS and KS1 take responsibility for the annual Nativity performances.
Visits to our local Church, St Thomas’ as well as visits from the vicar to our school assemblies is planned throughout the year.
Further up school, we plan for visits to mosques as well as opportunities to take part in question and answer sessions with people from a variety of different faiths.