Religious Education (RE)

Religious Education (RE) allows children to explore what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live. Children gain knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion and belief, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living. Learning about, and developing respect and tolerance for the variety of beliefs and practices in our multicultural society is key for the education of children living in a rural Wiltshire town.

Our intention is that RE in St John’s School will:

• Develop pupil’s knowledge and understanding of, the beliefs and practices of Christians and people of other principal world religions, and non-religious world views.
• Enable pupils to explain how beliefs and practices can inform and change the way people see the world and the way they live and treat others.
• Help pupils to gain an understanding of differences held within a religious or nonreligious worldview and of the similarities of beliefs and practices held in common by people within and across traditions.
• Equip pupils to be sensitive to others’ beliefs , able to express their own views well, show curiosity and have the skills to ask appropriate questions when meeting people different to themselves.

Intent

At St John’s School, our aim is for the Religious Education curriculum to engage, inspire, challenge and encourage children, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to answer challenging questions. In addition to this, our children explore different religious beliefs, values and traditions and develop a more rigorous understanding of the numerous religious traditions, beliefs and practices which are followed in our multicultural society. We want the children to know how religious education promotes discernment and enables pupils to combat prejudice, preparing them for adult life, employment and life-long learning. Our curriculum is inclusive, develops self-confidence and identifies that all our children are unique and therefore we should all be tolerant of each other’s beliefs. We encourage our children to be inquisitive about others’ beliefs, developing inquiry-based skills which allow them to be culturally aware of the world around them. We promote equality and understanding of British Values and ensure our children are prepared for life in modern multicultural Britain.

Implementation

During their time at St John’s School, children will learn about beliefs and practices of Christianity, Judaism, Islam and  Hinduism. Visits are made to local places of worship and children gain an understanding of religions studied through the use of artefacts. Understanding of different beliefs and practices is developed through recurring themes, such as pilgrimage, celebrations and sacred books. Children learn what people believe and then use evidence to investigate why people have those beliefs. Thought-provoking themes, such as the journey of life and death, justice and freedom and poverty, peace and conflict engage the children in dialogue and debate.

Impact

Our children develop a stronger awareness of the world around them and are mindful of the beliefs of others. They feel they are valued as individuals and that their beliefs are valued and celebrated. Children enjoy the creativity of the curriculum and develop inquisitive minds. They feel safe to learn new things and share their beliefs with others in an accepting environment. Children leave the school with a sense of belonging to a tightly knit community where they have the confidence and skills to make decisions, self-evaluate, make connections and become lifelong learners.