Religious Education at Southey Green Primary School

Religious Education Subject Lead: Miss F. Ryan

Intent

At Southey Green Primary School and Nurseries we follow ‘Discovery RE’ in Years 1 - 6 which is compliant with the Sheffield Agreed Syllabus. This means we deliver a broad and balanced curriculum of RE for all of our children. The aim of Religious Education is that pupils will know about and understand a range of religions and worldviews and will express ideas and insights of their own into the significant human questions which religions address.

Discovery RE is an enquiry-based approach for the teaching of RE. Each unit of work follows a theme which poses a key question to be explored by children. Children are engaged and they investigate, evaluate and express their own learning throughout the key theme. Religious education contributes dynamically to children and young people’s education in schools, provoking challenging questions about human life, beliefs, communities and ideas.

In RE pupils learn from religions and world views about different ways of life in local, national and global contexts. They discover, explore and consider many different answers to questions about human identity, meaning and value. They learn to weigh up for themselves the value of wisdom from different communities, to disagree respectfully, to be reasonable in their responses to religions and world views and to respond by express insights into their own and others’ lives. They are encouraged to develop enquiring minds, and to think rigorously, creatively, imaginatively and respectfully about their ideas in relation to religions and world views.

As stated in our curriculum policy, we aim for all of our children to

• Literate
• Numerate
• Being able to articulate ideas, understanding and opinions in a confident manner at all levels using rich vocabulary
• With raised aspirations with children ready to take on new challenges
• Have experiences that provoke curiosity and deepen understanding
• Become responsible and respectful members of our society
• Have strong cultural capital

There are many ways in which we strive to achieve this and below are just a few examples

British Values

Religious Education is a key player in stimulating knowledge and understanding which can lead to tolerance and respect for others and their beliefs. It does not, however, teach children to passively accept, but rather encourages evaluation and critical thinking, equipping them to consider belief positions they encounter. Discovery RE contributes significantly to the British Values agenda.