Religious Education
Intent, Implementation and Impact
Intent :
At Goat Lees Primary School, 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 Goat Lees is:
- To help children to acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and the other principal religions represented in Great Britain
- Appreciate the way that worldviews shape life and behaviour
- Develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues
- Enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
It plays an important role, along with all other curriculum areas, particularly PSHE, 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.
Implementation :
At Goat Lees Primary School, we follow the revised Kent Agreed Syllabus 2022-2027 (written by RE Today and Kent SACRE and endorsed by the Diocese of Canterbury and Rochester). The syllabus is delivered through the linked RE Today Scheme of Work. This presents pupils with opportunities to learn about faith and culture in the wider world community, enabling them to explore key values that have been treasured by all religious traditions, regardless of religious belief or conviction. As part of ‘broad and balanced curriculum’ pupils have regular RE lessons and enrichment days.
At Goat Lees Primary School, the following religions have been selected for study:
- Christianity
- Islam
- Judaism
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Humanism
Religious Education teaching and learning is enhanced by:
- Handling artefacts
- exploring scared texts
- using imaginative play or drama to express feelings and ideas
- responding to images, games, stories, art, music and dance
- making visits to religious places of worship where possible, and where not, making use of videos and the internet
- taking part in whole school events- (multi-faith days, Harvest Festival, school performances)
- participating in moments of quiet reflection
- participating in assemblies
- using ICT to further explore religion and belief globally
- comparing religions and worldviews through discussion
- debating and communicating religious belief, worldviews and philosophical ideas and answering and asking ultimate questions posed by these.
We value the religious background of all members of the school community and we hope that this will encourage individuals to share their own experiences with others freely.
Impact :
Through their R.E. learning, the children at Goat Lees will be able to:
- make links between their own lives and those of others in their community and in the wider world
- develop an understanding of other people’s cultures and ways of life
- extend their knowledge and understanding of religions and beliefs
- develop a religious vocabulary and interpret religious symbolism in a variety of forms
- reflect on questions of meaning, offering their own thoughtful and informed insights into religious and secular world-views
- explore ultimate questions of beliefs and values in relation to a range of contemporary issues in an ever-changing society
Therefore, Religious Education is vital in our transitional and shrinking world. Pupils’ skills and knowledge are assessed by the class teacher, throughout lessons and a summative assessment is completed following the school’s assessment timetable. Progression of learning overall can be seen through the class Religious Education portfolio.
If you would like to see how our Early Years Curriculum links to the RE curriculum in years 1-6, please click here.