RE

Intent:
At Manorcroft, we believe that Religious Education has a significant role for the development of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. It promotes respect and open-mindedness towards others with different faiths and beliefs and encourages pupils to develop their sense of identity and belonging through self-awareness and reflection. The principle aim of RE is to engage pupils in an enquiry approach where they can develop an understanding and appreciation for the expression of beliefs, cultural practices and influence of principle religions and worldviews in the local, national and wider global community.

Implementation:
At Manorcroft, we use the Surrey Agreed syllabus to teach RE. The RE subject leader carefully maps the units to be taught from Reception to Year 6 to ensure coverage and progression.  Learning in RE is divided into two distinct but complementary areas: knowledge and understanding and expressing ideas, beliefs and insights.

Knowledge and understanding:

Children are taught to know about and understand religion (and, where appropriate, non-religious worldviews), so that they can:

• describe, explain and analyse beliefs, teachings and practices, recognising the diversity which exists within and between religious and non-religious communities and amongst individuals
• identify, investigate and respond to questions posed, and responses offered by some of the sources of wisdom found in religions and worldviews (including the key texts, the teachings of key leaders, and key thinkers from different traditions and communities)
• appreciate and appraise the nature, significance and impact of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning

Expressing ideas, beliefs and insights:

Children are taught to:

• explain reasonably their ideas about how beliefs, practices and forms of expression influence individuals and communities
• express with increasing discernment their personal reflections and critical responses to questions and teachings about identity, diversity, meaning and value, including ethical issues
• appreciate and appraise varied dimensions of religion or belief

RE is taught weekly in every year group. In Reception, units are based upon children’s own lives and experiences, and introduces children to Christianity, and other religions and beliefs represented within school. In KS1, children are taught about Christianity and aspects of Judaism and Islam while also incorporating non-religious world views. In KS2, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism are layered into the syllabus. We encourage children to develop a range of generic skills such as reflection, empathy, investigation, interpretation, evaluation etc. in order to move them on from mere knowledge accumulation and towards higher-level thinking.

Experiences and enrichment opportunities at Manorcroft Primary

• handling artefacts
• exploring sacred texts
• using imaginative play or drama to express feelings and ideas
• responding to images, games, stories, art, music and dance
• meeting visitors from local religious communities
• 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
• using IT 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
• RE is taught within and beyond the classroom as part of our commitment to outdoor learning.

Impact:
At Manorcroft Primary, we envisage the RE curriculum enabling the children to do the following:

• 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