RE

Intent

Our intent is for a high-quality Religious Education curriculum which is coherent, progressive, pedagogically and philosophically sound, and promotes the cognitive, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of all learners.

Aims of Religious Education knowledge-led curriculum

The principal aim of religious education is to explore what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion and belief, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living.

The curriculum for RE (in line with the Leicestershire Agreed Syllabus 2021-2026) aims to ensure that all pupils:

Make sense of a range of religious and non-religious beliefs, so that they can:

Identify, describe, explain and analyse beliefs and concepts in the context of living religions, using appropriate vocabulary.
Explain how and why these beliefs are understood in different ways, by individuals and within communities.
Recognise how and why sources of authority (e.g., texts, teachings, traditions, leaders) are used, expressed and interpreted in different ways, developing skills of interpretation.

Understand the impact and significance of religious and non-religious beliefs, so they can:

Examine and explain how and why people express their beliefs in diverse ways.
Recognise and account for ways in which people put their beliefs into action in diverse ways, in their everyday lives, within their communities and in the wider world.
Appreciate and appraise the significance of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning.

Make connections between religious and non-religious beliefs, concepts, practices and ideas studied, so that they can:

Evaluate, reflect on and enquire into key concepts and questions studied, responding thoughtfully and creatively, giving good reasons for their responses.
Challenge the ideas studied, and allow the ideas studied to challenge their own thinking, articulating beliefs, values and commitments clearly in response.
Discern possible connections between the ideas studied and their own ways of understanding the world, expressing their critical responses and personal reflections with increasing clarity and understanding.

(Leicestershire Agreed Syllabus, 2021-2026)

Throughout pupils’ time at Woolden Hill Primary School, teachers should consider how their teaching contributes towards the principal aim of RE in the local area, and how they help pupils to achieve the further aims for a knowledge led RE curriculum.

At Woolden Hill Primary School, teachers work collaboratively using subject progression maps and knowledge mapping to coherently plan and sequence learning journeys designed to allow our pupils to gain cumulatively sufficient knowledge to ensure they are ready for the next stage of their education.

Right for Parents to Withdraw their Children from RE, Collective Worship & Sex & Relationship Education

In England and Wales parents have the statutory right under Section 71 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to withdraw their children from RE lessons and acts of Collective Worship in schools. You can also request a withdrawal from any subjects/ lessons/assemblies involving discussions on the topic of sex and relationships.

As parents you are not obliged to give a reason for requesting the withdrawal.

However, before exercising any right of withdrawal, we would recommend you discuss your concerns with the class teacher or Headteacher.

Should a pupil be withdrawn from those learning activities/lessons, they will be directed to complete supplementary lessons instead in another topic area.

Requests for withdrawals are made in writing; please see the text below as an example:

As parents of [child’s name] we formally request that he/she is withdrawn from worship/RE/Sex and Relationship Education of any kind in future, without any detriment.

Subject Areas