Religious Education
Curriculum intent
Our RE curriculum is designed to support all children to develop an understanding of the place that religion plays in people’s lives. We want our pupils to be free to make their own choices and decisions concerning religion and belief. We encourage children to share their own knowledge and experience with others.
Our curriculum is underpinned by the following aims:
- To develop children’s spiritual, moral, social, and cultural understanding in an inclusive environment.
- To promote respect, empathy, and tolerance, preparing children to live in a diverse and ever-changing society.
- To encourage all learners to ask deep questions, reflect meaningfully, and explore their own beliefs and values.
By learning about diverse faiths, cultures, and ways of life, pupils gain a greater appreciation of diversity, challenge prejudice, and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them. Ultimately, our R.E. curriculum equips children with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to thrive as respectful, informed, and responsible members of society.
Our RE curriculum aims to develop pupils’ understanding of a range of religions and worldviews while fostering respect, empathy, curiosity, and reflection. Through the Discovery RE enquiry-based approach, children explore how beliefs influence individuals, communities, and societies, encouraging them to consider their own values alongside those of others.
Pupils engage in discussion, investigation, and evaluation, developing the confidence to ask meaningful questions, explore different perspectives, and engage respectfully with diverse beliefs and practices. Through learning about a variety of faiths, cultures, and ways of life, children gain a deeper understanding of the world around them and an appreciation of diversity.
Our curriculum supports all pupils in understanding the role religion plays in people’s lives and encourages them to make informed choices about their own beliefs. Ultimately, RE equips children with the knowledge, understanding, and attitudes needed to become respectful, reflective, and responsible members of society.
What does learning look like at our school?
At our school, Religious Education is taught through the Discovery RE scheme, which promotes an enquiry-based approach to learning. Through engaging enquiries and meaningful “Big Questions”, pupils investigate religion, belief and worldviews, developing both knowledge and critical thinking skills.
The Discovery RE curriculum is carefully sequenced to build knowledge progressively across the primary years. Pupils revisit key concepts, beliefs, practices and values, deepening their understanding as they move through the school. Through the study of a range of religions, including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism and Sikhism, children develop an understanding of the diversity of faith and belief within the modern world.
Our curriculum aims to deepen pupils’ understanding of a range of religions and worldviews while fostering respect, empathy, and curiosity. Pupils explore how beliefs influence individuals, communities, and societies, encouraging them to reflect on their own values and those of others. Through discussion, investigation, and evaluation, children develop the confidence to ask thoughtful questions, consider different perspectives, and engage respectfully in dialogue
(RE is taught in accordance with the aims of the Agreed Syllabus for South Gloucestershire)
Progression in Religious Education
Download: R.E Whole school Overview
Download: Discovery RE for Parents
Download: RE Children’s Work
How can families support at home?
Families play an important role in supporting children’s learning in RE. You can help by:
- Talking about your own beliefs, values, traditions, and celebrations.
- Discussing religious festivals and special events that are celebrated in your community and around the world.
- Encouraging children to ask questions about different faiths, cultures, and worldviews.
- Reading books, watching documentaries, or exploring websites that introduce different religions and beliefs.
- Visiting places of worship or cultural sites where appropriate.
- Promoting respect, kindness, and understanding towards people with different beliefs and backgrounds.
- Sharing family experiences and traditions to help children make connections between their learning and the wider world.
These conversations help children develop curiosity, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the diverse society in which they live.
We encourage families to explore these resources together and use it as a starting point for conversations about beliefs, values, traditions, and the diverse world around us.
Religious Education – Useful Websites
BBC Bitesize – Religious Studies – Child-friendly information, videos and activities exploring Christianity, other religions, beliefs and celebrations.
TrueTube – Videos and resources exploring different religions, beliefs, values and ethical issues.
RE – Resources and information about different religions and worldviews to support children’s learning.
National Geographic Kids – Child-friendly articles and information about different cultures, religions, traditions and celebrations around the world.
British Museum – Learning – Explore religious objects, artefacts, stories and cultures from around the world.
CAFOD – Children’s Resources – Stories, activities and resources helping children explore Christian faith, values, prayer and global issues.
The Right of Withdrawal from Religious Education:
Religion and belief have become more visible in public life in recent years, making it important that all pupils should have an opportunity to engage in RE. However, the parent of a pupil at a community, foundation or voluntary school (or pupils themselves if they are aged 18 or over) may request that they be excused from all or part of the religious education (RE) provided.
Parents who wish to withdraw their children from RE should be aware of its aims and what is covered in the RE curriculum and that they are given the opportunity to discuss this if they wish. It should be made clear whether the withdrawal is from the whole RE curriculum or specific parts of it. No reasons need be given.
Important – limitations to withdraw
- If pupils are withdrawn from RE, schools have a duty to supervise them, though not to provide additional teaching. A pupil may be required to work in another area of the school, such as library or break out area.
- Whilst parents or carers have a right to withdraw children from RE, they should note that children may also encounter religions and beliefs and wider aspects of faith in other areas of the curriculum from which there is no right of withdrawal.
- On occasion, spontaneous questions about religious matters are raised by pupils or issues related to religion arise in other curriculum subjects such as history or citizenship (PSHE) For example, schools promote community cohesion and help pupils to understand ideas about identity and diversity, feelings and emotions within both religious and non-religious contexts.
Managing the Right of Withdrawal
If pupils are withdrawn from RE, schools have a duty to supervise them, though not to provide additional teaching or to incur extra cost. Pupils will usually remain on school premises where it is feasible and appropriate.
Where a request for withdrawal is made, the school must comply and excuse the pupil until the request is rescinded. Though not legally required, it is good practice for a head teacher to invite parents to discuss their written request.
(Section 71(3), School Standards and Framework Act 1998).