The RE council states that: ‘the ability to understand the faith and beliefs of individuals and communities and how these may shape their culture and behaviour, is an asset for children living in modern day Britain.’

Children at Edge Hill will learn to express their insights and be able to agree and disagree with each other’s opinions respectfully.

At Edge Hill, we follow the Staffordshire Agreed Syllabus, which provides the basis of our legal requirements for the teaching of RE, which is a compulsory subject throughout all key stages. Our Religious Education curriculum is based on the Discovery RE scheme of work. This has been chosen for its clear development and progression of children’s knowledge and skills and thinking about RE.  Our lessons and units of work are based on the content of the National Curriculum and follow the Substantive concepts of: Beliefs, teachings and sources; Practices and ways of life; Expressing meaning; Identity, diversity and belonging; Meaning, purpose and truth; Values and commitments.

In accordance with The Agreed Syllabus, we focus on Christianity in all year groups with Islam and Hinduism being alternatively covered. There is also a unit exploring Humanism in year 6.

British Values

Religious Education is vital for engendering knowledge and understanding, which can lead to tolerance and respect for others and their beliefs. It encourages evaluation and critical thinking, equipping children to take time to consider the belief positions they encounter. RE contributes significantly to the British Values agenda and Discovery RE maps out these links through its planning. British Values include Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those of different faiths of beliefs.

 

We ensure that our planned RE curriculum is taught effectively by completing the following elements:

• Lessons are taught by a class teacher every week in a variety of ways, depending on the unit of work in focus.
• Our RE work is recorded in specific books, which will move with the children throughout the key stage.
• RE is well planned and resourced with a clear structure to sustain pupils’ natural curiosity. Children are given opportunities to reflect on prior learning at the beginning of each lesson.
• Where appropriate, lessons will contain elements of ‘My turn, Our turn, Your turn’ to ensure the content is broken down and modelled effectively.
• Opportunities for cross-curricular learning are considered where appropriate.
• RE is all-inclusive and diverse where any misconceptions are addressed to enhance the RE concepts taught.

 

The impact of our teaching is measured by carrying out pupil learning conversations, observations of lessons and looking at the content in RE books.

The Impact of our RE curriculum is to enable our children to be prepared for the next phase of their learning journey, be prepared for life in modern Britain and also life in the wider world, as we recognise the importance of our young people becoming good citizens and being inclusive within their own society.

N.B For all state-funded schools, the law specifies that if a parent requests that their child be ‘wholly or partly excused’ from RE provision, then regardless of the nature of that provision, the school must allow it.