Religious Education

Intent

Religious Education at Willow ASPIRE’s to respect and promote each child’s innate capacity for curiosity and spirituality. We are ambitious to promote and value religions throughout their journey in our school, pupils will acquire and develop the knowledge, understanding and skills of the principal religions represented locally and in the wider world. Through Religious Education, our pupils develop their knowledge of the world faiths, their understanding and awareness of the beliefs, values and traditions of other individuals, societies, communities and cultures.

We believe R.E. encourages pupils to develop their sense of identity and belonging through self-awareness and reflection. Throughout school, we promote respect and open-mindedness towards others with different faiths and beliefs. Our curriculum is designed to encourage creativity, imagination, enquiry, debate, discussion and independence. Our principle aim is to engage our pupils with an enquiry based approach where they can develop an understanding and appreciation for the expression of beliefs and cultural practices. We encourage our pupils to ask questions about the world and to reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences.

We believe that it is vital for all our pupils to learn about religion, so that they can understand the world around them. Our pupils will develop their knowledge and understanding of how religions and beliefs can shape life and behaviour. Religious Education is delivered so pupils will enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development by making reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues. Whilst learning about different religions we also encourage our pupils to use our Learning Superpowers where the pupils can reflect on how and when they have been resilient, used their collaboration skills, been investigative and evaluated their learning. 

R.E. Curriculum at Willow

Implementation

We aim to give every child a unique and engaging experience which will allow them to achieve their full potential. Our Whole School Religious Education is reflected in the attainment targets below. 

• To be able to learn about region and belief
• To be able to learn from religion and belief 

Religious Education is provided for all pupils in our school and is inclusive and broad minded. Our Curriculum is individually tailored to maximise our local links and fulfils of all the requirements of the local syllabus. 

The following religions have been selected for study: 

• Christianity
• Islam
• Judaism
• Hinduism  
• Buddhism
• Sikhism

Each term, our whole school focuses on a specific skill (strand). The different strands allow our children to build upon their prior knowledge and develop their skills further. This approach enables the children to deepen their understanding through reflection and evaluation. 

• Believing – Religious beliefs, teachings, sources, questions about meaning, purpose and truth
• Expressing – Religious and spiritual forms of expression, questions about identify and diversity
• Living – Religious practices and ways of living, questions about values and commitment

Our teaching and learning explores big questions about life to find out what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can make sense of religion, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living. Our lesson provide creative opportunities and activities for pupils through an enquiry based approach. 

Our Collective Worship Policy includes assemblies, class assemblies, mindfulness, debate and discussion. Our PSHCE lessons also contribute to the teaching of R.E. and we have many valued links in the local community that contribute greatly to R.E. lessons and acts of worship.

Community links

We have a close and valued link with St Francis Church in Bessacarr. Our annual Christmas celebration service sees St Francis filled with children, staff, parents/carers and relatives. We also work with the church members to collect a huge number of harvest gifts, very generously donated by families. The tinned and packaged goods and toiletries are given to Doncaster Food Bank, which supports local families in Doncaster.

We greatly value the regular visits of the 'Open the Book' group from our local Church. Stories from the Bible are brought to life through drama and discussion, in such an engaging way that captures the pupils' interest and supports their reflection.

Parents do have the right to withdraw pupils from RE. If parents wish to do this, they must make an appointment with the Headteacher. The school does not support selective withdrawal from RE and strongly advises against it as we believe all children benefit from having an understanding and respect for all faiths.

Impact

Our Religious Education Curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression.

By the end of Primary School, our pupils should:

• Demonstrate a positive attitude towards people of any religion and show an understanding of cultural beliefs different to their own
• Be able to make links between their own lives and those of others in their community and in the wider world, developing an understanding of other people’s cultures and ways of life 
• Demonstrate respectful behaviour to all - respect is transferable outside of school in the wider community and beyond
• Know about important people from the past and the present who have been or are positive role models and who are of a different race or religion

As part of the learning  process, we provide children with the following: 

• A knowledge organiser which outlines knowledge (including vocabulary).
• A cycle of lessons for each term linked to one of the three strands for R.E. 
• Challenge questions for pupils to apply their learning in a philosophical/open manner. 
• Enrichment days and visitors who enhance the learning experience