R.E.
The aim of RE is to support children in affirming and developing their own beliefs, values and attitudes through an exploration of shared human experiences and of the place and significance of religion in the contemporary world.
In addition to the subjects taught as required by the National Curriculum, Religious Education is taught in accordance with the Questful Blackburn Diocesan Syllabus.
The R.E. curriculum focuses mainly on Christianity but also reflects society, locally and nationally, by including units of work based on other faith traditions (see below for more information). Children are encouraged to learn about religions, to understand why people do certain things and to learn from religious traditions. At all times, children are encouraged to respect the beliefs and traditions of other people.
Our Christian Values and Pupils’ Personal Development
Our curriculum is an important means by which we develop the values of our school in our pupils during their time at St John’s Stonefold Church of England Primary School. When planning and delivering lessons, teachers give attention to our Christian values of Empathy, Aspiration, Generosity, Love and Endurance which are relevant to the unit of work. Our aim is to encourage positive attitudes to learning, to ourselves as individuals and to other members of our community.
Cultural Capital
Through our curriculum we aim to provide our children with the skills and knowledge they require to be educated citizens with an appreciation of human creativity and achievement throughout human history. With these insights our pupils will have the capacity to be happy, independent, confident individuals able to benefit from and contribute to their local communities and wider society.
Reading
The effective teaching of reading is of paramount importance. Becoming efficient readers enables our children to achieve our other curricular aims much more easily. It is a skill for life. We give the highest priority to the improvement of children’s reading
Purpose of Study
The principle aim of the Blackburn Diocesan agreed syllabus for Religious Education is to engage pupils in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religion and worldviews address, so that they can develop the understanding and skills needed to appreciate and appraise varied responses to these questions, as well as develop responses of their own. It should develop in pupils an aptitude for dialogue so that they can participate positively in our society, with its diverse religions and worldviews. In RE they learn about and from religions in local, national and global contexts, to discover, explore and consider different answers to these questions.
Local and World Communities: Faith and Views Around the World
The threefold aim of RE elaborates the principal aim. The curriculum for RE aims to ensure that all pupils:
- Know about and understand a range of religions and worldviews, 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 of wisdom found in religions and worldviews
- appreciate and appraise the nature, significance and impact of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning.
- Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and worldviews, so that they can:
- explain reasonably their ideas about 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.
- Gain and deploy the skills need 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.
This agreed syllabus requires that all pupils learn from Christianity. In addition, pupils will learn from the principal religions represented in the UK, in line with the law. These are Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Judaism. Furthermore, children from families where non-religious worldviews are held, are respected and represented in our work on faith.
Links can be made in collective worship and through other subjects such as English however it is expected that RE be taught in clearly identifiable time and taught each week.
