Religious Education
At Woodlands Primary School the Religious Education curriculum aims to give the children in our care a broad knowledge and understanding of the principal religions. These are Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. In Key Stage One, we focus our learning on Christianity and Islam. In Key Stage Two, we continue to focus on Christianity and Islam as well as introducing Hinduism. As a school we have chosen these religions to support our demographic and to aid the children in their understanding of world issues.
Religious Education is taught following the Telford and Wrekin SACRE agreed units. These focus on teaching within a local, national, and global context, giving children the opportunity to discuss and explore a variety of religious themes, allowing children to share their opinion freely and listening to others. Our school RE curriculum offers children opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development. It considers the influence of religion on individuals, families, communities and cultures.
Religious Education is taught during foundation weeks each half term. This allows us to build on prior knowledge and have the time for in-depth discussions needed for children to enhance their understanding within the subject. At Woodlands, RE is linked to our learning across the curriculum through use of our substantive concepts. The substantive concepts for religious studies are:
- Celebrations/festivals
- Ethics and moral code
- Caring
- Forgiveness
- Community
- Peace
- Sacrifice/suffering
During our whole school and Key Stage assemblies there is a focus on different festivals at the appropriate time of year enabling children to understand what may be happening in the world as well as their own local community. We also have a high focus on personal development which has strong links to Religious Education. Through the use of substantive concepts and a focus within assemblies this helps children to know and remember more.
Intent
At Woodlands Primary, we believe that it is important for all our pupils to learn from and about religion, so that they can understand the world around them. The aim of Religious Education in our school is to help children to acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and the other principal religions represented in Great Britain. Children will learn 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. Religious Education plays an important role, along with all other curriculum areas, 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 include and promote British values, ensuring that children are aware of their rights and responsibilities as UK citizens. Our curriculum is designed to encourage creativity, imagination, enquiry, debate, discussion and independence
Implementation
We use the Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education developed by Telford and Wrekin SACRE as the basis for our curriculum.
At Woodlands, it has been agreed having taken into account the requirements and guidelines presented in the Agreed Syllabus that we will focus on Christianity and Islam in KS1 and Christianity, Islam and Hinduism in KS2. However all six world religions will be taught across the units to allow children to gain an understanding of religions and opinions they may encounter in society. Teachers are aware of other children’s religions in the class and ask when appropriate how this teaching links in with their religions belief or teaching.
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 freely. All religions and their communities are treated with respect and sensitivity. and We value the links, which are and can be made between home, school, and a faith community. At Woodlands we are extremely lucky to have a good relationship with our local church, St Micheal’s Madeley who visit school and welcome the children several times over the year.
At Woodlands, we know that children learn a lot from experience and therefore ensure we create opportunities for children to visit places of worship and have conversations with a variety of religious leaders.
Impact
The children at Woodlands Primary enjoy learning about other religions and why people choose, or choose not to follow a religion. Through their learning, the 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 and respect of other people’s cultures and ways of life
By the time they leave Woodlands, pupils should have a broad knowledge of religions and their beliefs. They should be able to talk about their opinions and how these may differ from what religions teach or say.
