Religious Education: enabling every child to flourish

Jeremiah 29:11

​

'For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'

 

Intent

At St. Bartholomew’s C of E Primary School we believe that Religious Education in a Church school should enable every child to flourish and to live life in all its fullness. (John 10:10) 

​

Our Religious Education curriculum plays an integral role in defining the school’s distinctive Christian character and is an expression of our theologically rooted Christian vision and core Christian values.

​

RE is a high-profile subject, lead by a named, trained member of staff who leads RE knowledgeably.

​

Central to Religious Education is the study of Christianity as a living and diverse faith, focused on the teaching of Jesus and the Church.

​

Our pupils also gain knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and worldviews, non-religious worldviews, and the diversity which exists within these in a sequenced curriculum through three disciplinary lenses:

• Theology – exploring beliefs and sacred texts;

• Philosophy – asking questions, reasoning and evaluating ideas; 

• Human and Social Sciences – exploring how beliefs are lived out by individuals and communities.

​

This moves RE beyond simply learning facts, enabling pupils to become curious, thoughtful and informed interpreters of religion and worldviews.

In doing so, our pupils develop the wisdom, knowledge and skills to understand themselves, others and the world around them, helping them to live with dignity, respect, justice and compassion.

​

This reflects the message of Jeremiah 29:11, where God promises, “I know the plans I have for you… plans to give you hope and a future.”

Through Religious Education, our pupils are encouraged to develop hope and aspiration, recognise the value and potential of every person, and consider how their beliefs, choices and actions can contribute to a more compassionate and hopeful future for themselves and others.

​​​

Implementation

Our Religious Education curriculum enables every child to flourish and achieve through a bespoke curriculum, carefully adapted to our local context, whilst ensuring the statement of entitlement is fully met.

​

Our curriculum covers: Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism, religious and non-religious world views.

​

Lessons are taught weekly and are planned to incorporate the Understanding Christianity scheme, the LBDE scheme, Wolverhampton SACRE and bespoke big questions.

​

Each unit beginning with a ‘Big Question’ to encourage pupils to reflect and ask questions of their own to help drive their learning forward. Lessons are carefully sequenced and taught through the disciplinary lenses of Theology, Philosophy and Human and Social Sciences.

​

Pupils encounter the breadth of Christian traditions through visitors from different denominations, alongside opportunities to visit a of range religious places of worship and participate in religious experiences, workshops and enrichment days. These authentic encounters enable pupils to explore lived religion, ask thoughtful questions, challenge stereotypes and develop dignity, respect, compassion, justice and understanding. Inspired by Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you… plans to give you hope and a future,”

​​​

Impact

Here at St. Bartholomew’s we want pupils to flourish in Religious Education lessons. They will be knowledgeable about the multi-religious and multi-secular world in which they live. Pupils will have had the opportunity to practise a wide range of skills including enquiry, analysis, interpretation, evaluation and reflection.

​

Pupils will leave St. Bartholomew’s Primary having had the opportunity to:

• know about and understand Christianity as a diverse global living faith through the exploration of core beliefs using an approach that critically engages with biblical text.

• gain knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and non-religious world-views, appreciating the complexity,  diversity, continuity and change within the religions and worldviews being studied.

• recognise the concept of religion and its continuing influence on Britain’s cultural heritage and in the lives of individuals and societies in different times, cultures and places.

• bring personal RE knowledge and experiences to the classroom

• explore their personal worldviews; their own religious or non- religious, spiritual and philosophical ways living, believing and thinking.

 

Our vision is for our pupils to have a hope filled future, as responsible citizens, who make a positive contribution to their community, society and God’s world.

​