RE

Intent, Implementation & Impact Statement - R.E.

Intent

At Kings Norton Primary School, we take pride in our commitment to Equality and Diversity. Thus Religious Education is taught throughout the school in a way to reflect the aims and values of our school, as well as promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our children.

We believe that all learners should develop mutual respect and understanding of the many different beliefs and cultures in Birmingham, the UK and the world. 

The aim of our Religious Education is to help children to acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of the nine religious traditions, which include Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism. We also acknowledge the importance of Non-Religious Worldviews.

Implementation

At Kings Norton Primary School, we follow the Birmingham Agreed Religious Education Syllabus (2022). The key focus in RE is on learning from experiences, learning about religious traditions and non-religious worldviews, learning from faith and learning to discern. The syllabus encompasses a spiral curriculum of 24 Dispositions and a progression of faith knowledge which aim to teach children:

• The principal religions represented in Great Britain

• To appreciate the way that religious beliefs shape life and our behaviour

• Develop the ability to enquire and make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues

• And enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

The Dispositions are taught clustered together to reflect their interdependence and the different configurations in which they may be encountered within the varying cultures and civilisations. The R.E. curriculum is taught as a spiral curriculum in which all years are taught with age appropriate questions at each Key Stage. Children start to learn more about others through  ’Knowledge of the World Around Us’ Early Learning Goal in our EYFS classrooms, by the time children leave us at the end of Year 6, our children will have an in depth understanding of how different religions display these dispositions simultaneously and so will be well equipped to draw on similarities rather than differences between the faiths easily.

There are no presumptions made as to the religious backgrounds and beliefs and values of the children and the staff.  We value the religious background of all members of the school community and hope that this will encourage individuals to share their own experiences with others freely.  All religions and their communities are treated with respect and sensitivity and we value the links, which are, and can be made between home, school, and a faith community.  

We acknowledge that each religion studied can contribute to the education of all our pupils. 

We promote teaching Religious Education that stresses open enquiry and first hand experiences wherever possible for both children and staff. We encourage children to develop their skills of critical thinking, being curious and asking questions about other faiths in order to understand and respect the importance of religious beliefs in the world around them. 

We aim to ensure that R.E is challenging and relevant to all pupils of all ages.

Impact

At Kings Norton Primary School, Religious Education helps all pupils to develop their understanding of equality and diversity, allowing them to feel knowledgeable about different beliefs, religions and cultures. This in turn helps our pupils to:

• develop their knowledge and understanding of the beliefs, values and traditions of major world faiths, particularly those represented in Birmingham

• develop a sense of identity, belonging 

• reflect and think about their own beliefs 

• be well prepared for life in the diverse, multi-cultural society of modern Britain

Religious Education plays an important role, along with all other curriculum areas, particularly PSHE and SMSC, in promoting social awareness and understanding in our children.  

Through Religious Education, children develop an understanding f other people’s cultures and ways of life. Religious Education offers our children the means by which to understand how other people chose to live and understand why they choose to live in that way. As such, Religious Education is invaluable in an ever changing and diverse world.

Note for parents

All parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of RE. Please arrange an appointment with Mrs Corke through the office should you wish to discuss this further.