Barwic Parade’s Religious Education Curriculum Statement

Intent

At Barwic Parade, we have an understanding and tolerance of the world and recognise that Religious Education provokes challenging questions about: the ultimate meaning and purpose of life; beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality; the issues of right and wrong.

RE also contributes to pupils’ personal wellbeing and to community cohesion by promoting mutual respect and tolerance in a diverse society. It offers opportunities for children to be taken around the world and gain experiences and to enable appreciation of their own and others’ beliefs, attitudes and values, helping them to develop clear understanding of the significance of religion in their own area as well as in the world today.

Implementation

Our curriculum is based on the North Yorkshire Agreed Syllabus. Our lessons are delivered bi-weekly in units. Religious Education key skills (knowing about and understanding religions and worldviews; expressing and communicating ideas related to religions and worldviews; gaining and deploying the skills for studying religions and worldviews) are revisited throughout the year to build upon and deepen pupils’ ability to use them effectively. Progression is mapped throughout the school from Reception to Year 6, which includes the progression of knowledge, skills taught and religious vocabulary. In addition, each term we celebrate a festival, celebration or special time from different religions to promote a wider curriculum and a sense of belonging to a community.

Children begin their Religious Education at Barwic Parade by encountering religions and worldviews through special people, books, places and objects in Foundation Stage. This is built on in Key Stage 1 where children begin to express their own views and ask questions. In Key Stage 2, pupils should learn to express their own beliefs, selecting evidence and giving reasons to support them.

RE Overview Years 1-6

RE Curriculum Planning

Below is an example of what our curriculum planning looks like. This has been taken from Year 3/4 Autumn Term Year A:

Impact

Religious Education at Barwic Parade develops pupils’:

• Understanding and respect for different religions, beliefs, values and traditions
• Understanding of the influence of faith and belief on individuals, societies, communities and cultures
• Skills of enquiry and response through the use of religious vocabulary, questioning and empathy
• Skills of reflection, expression, application, analysis and evaluation of beliefs, values and practices, and the communication of personal responses to these
• Consider challenging questions of the meaning and purpose of life; beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human
• Learn from different religions, beliefs, values and traditions while exploring questions of meaning and their own beliefs
• Learn about religious and ethical teaching, enabling them to make reasoned and informed responses to religious, moral and social issues
• Develop their sense of identity and belonging, preparing them for life as citizens in a plural, global society

The right to withdraw

At Barwic Parade Community Primary School, parents have the right to withdraw their child/ren from all or part of the RE lesson/s. Any concerns about the subject should be discussed with the class teacher and/or the Headteacher. Parents who wish to withdraw their children must provide written notice to this effect. The aim of RE is not to convert children to a particular viewpoint or imply that all ethical standpoints are necessarily religious ones.

What is tolerance in religion and why is it important for children to understand?

Religious Tolerance refers to the ability to appreciate spiritual values, beliefs and practices which are different from your own. Religious tolerance is necessary for individuals within the society to get along, especially when a variety of cultures and people with different religious beliefs live in one community or nation. When religious tolerance is practised, unity and consistency exist in society.