RE Long Term PlanIn this section of the website, you will find information about our approach to teaching Religious Education (RE) at Howletch Lane Primary School.
Intent
At Howletch Primary School the principal aim of Religious Education is to explore what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion and belief, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living.
The Durham Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education 2020, promotes, supports and encourages outstanding practice in the teaching of Religious Education (RE). The agreed syllabus aims to ensure that all children:
- Make sense of a range of religious and non-religious beliefs, so that they can: – identify, describe, explain and analyse beliefs and concepts in the context of living religions using appropriate vocabulary. – explain how and why these beliefs are understood in different ways, by individuals and within communities.
– recognise how and why sources of authority (e.g. texts, teachings, traditions, leaders) are used, expressed and interpreted in different ways, developing skills of interpretation.
- Understand the impact and significance of religious and non-religious beliefs, so that they can: – examine and explain how and why people express their beliefs in diverse ways. – recognise and account for ways in which people put their beliefs into action in diverse ways, in their everyday lives, within their communities and in the wider world. – appreciate and appraise the significance of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning. 3. Make connections between religious and non-religious beliefs, concepts, practices and ideas studied, so that they can: – evaluate, reflect on and enquire into the key concepts and questions studied, responding thoughtfully and creatively, giving good reasons for their responses. – challenge the ideas studied, and allow the ideas studied to challenge their own thinking, articulating beliefs, values and commitment clearly in response. – discern possible connections between the ideas studied and their own ways of understanding the world, expressing their critical responses and personal reflections with increasing clarity and understanding.
At Howletch Primary School, we are committed to providing our children with an exciting and positive learning environment, in which they have the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of religions while contributing to their spiritual, moral social and cultural development.
Implementation
Religious Education taught at Howletch Primary School (according to the Durham Agreed Syllabus Religious Education 2020) ensures pupils encounter core concepts in religions and beliefs in a coherent way, developing their understanding and their ability to handle questions of religions and belief. At Howletch Primary School, the teaching and learning approach has three core elements which are woven together to provide breath and balance within teaching and learning about religion and beliefs:
- RE is taught by studying one religion at a time (systemic units) and then including thematic units, which build on learning by comparing the religions, beliefs and practices studied. Teachers link with key dates and religious festivals, providing opportunities to celebrate festivals and religions with greater relevance and consistency and enhances a cross-curricular approach.
- Children have the opportunity to visit many different places of worship. To further deepen learning, Religious visitors are organised to talk to the children about their faith, festivals and beliefs. These visits provide the children with opportunities to ask questions and have hands on experiences such as: making Christingles and Diwali lights and singing Christmas carols. These trips and visitors are organised termly, focusing on the topics that the children are studying.
Impact
At Howletch Primary School, we seek to ensure that all children in our school are educated to develop spiritually, academically, emotionally and morally to enable them to better understand themselves and others and to cope with the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities of living in a rapidly changing, multicultural world. Regular assemblies and celebrations of learning help to celebrate the diversity of the school community and promote positive images of people in the wider community, including their beliefs, traditions, culture, language and history.
Religious Education in the Early Years:
RE sits very firmly within the areas of personal, social and emotional development and understanding of the world. From an early age, the children at Howletch Primary School learn to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others, and learn how to form positive and respectful relationships. They will do this through encountering religious and non-religious worldwide views through special people, books, places and objects and by visiting places of worship. The children will have the opportunity to listen to and talk about stories. They are introduced to subject-specific words and use all of their senses to explore beliefs, practices and forms of expression. In the Early Years, the children ask questions and reflect on their own feelings and experiences. They use their imaginations and curiosity to develop their appreciation of, and wonder at, the world in which they live.
