In this section of the website, you will find information about our approach to teaching RE at Witton Gilbert Primary School.
Intent | ||||||||||||
At Witton Gilbert Primary School, Religious Education teaches our pupils about both religious and non-religious worldviews. Through enquiry-based learning children explore the meaning and purpose in life, beliefs about God, ultimate reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. Learning in R.E. is categorised into three elements: Knowledge and Understanding, Critical Thinking and Personal Reflection. The elements are interlinked and enable children to build their religious literacy. Children develop a knowledge and understanding of a range of worldviews, enabling pupils to appreciate that they are complex, diverse and plural and have influence on individuals, communities, societies and cultures. They learn to interpret, analyse, evaluate and critically respond to claims that both worldviews make. Personal reflection encourages children to examine their own beliefs (whether they are religious or not), ideas, feelings, experiences and values in light of what they learn.
As well as children developing their own sense of identity and belonging, RE is vital in actively promoting mutual respect and tolerance of others’ faiths and beliefs, a fundamental British value. The R.E. curriculum aims to ensure that pupils:
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Implementation | ||||||||||||
Pupils will study Christianity in both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, as well as Buddhism in Key Stage 1 and Hinduism and Judaism in Key Stage 2, with a small special study of Islam. The curriculum also includes the study of other religions and worldviews taught through thematic units and units on religious diversity. R.E. in EYFS is taught as part of whole class topics or themes.
R.E. is generally delivered in a weekly timetabled lesson, however, depending on the topic or the type of teaching and learning activity, R.E. will sometimes be taught over an afternoon or entire day, particularly if the children are visiting a place of religious significance. The R.E. curriculum is planned carefully to ensure each child’s progression throughout their time at school. Children’s knowledge and understanding of concepts in R.E. will become deeper, more complex and more comprehensive. They will develop their critical thinking through the skills of analysis and evaluation in relation to questions raised by their learning in R.E.. Personal reflection is developed and deepened through opportunities for children to reflect on their own experiences, feelings, beliefs, values and ideas. The R.E. curriculum is enriched through visits to local places of religious significance. Churches in the village of Witton Gilbert are regularly visited by our children, and we encourage visitors from faith leaders to our school. In year 3, children learn about Christian churches from different denominations and are able to visit (in person or virtually) to see them first hand. Durham Cathedral is an important place of religious significance and will be visited by both year 2 and year 4 children to enhance their study of both the history of the cathedral as well as the modern-day worship there. Children enjoy communication from local mosques and synagogues to gain further understanding of the beliefs and practices in Judaism and Islam. Children will be introduced to subject specific vocabulary. The vocabulary taught will become wider and more abstract. It is used during teaching and it is expected to be used accurately in the children’s writing as well as oral discussions. |
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Cultural Capital in Religious Education | ||||||||||||
Cultural Capital is the accumulation of knowledge, behaviours, skills and experiences that gives us the confidence to be able to talk, communicate, progress and take a full part in our community and wider world. At Witton Gilbert Primary school, we promote equality through our commitment to developing cultural capital for all our children.
In R.E., children will learn about diverse religious and non-religious worldviews. The R.E. curriculum is designed to help children deal with controversial issues, manage strongly held differences of belief and challenge stereotypes and prejudice. Children will develop mutual respect and tolerance of others’ faiths and beliefs. In order to achieve this, children will experience:
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Impact | ||||||||||||
Children across both key stages enjoy their learning in R.E. They have a keen interest in the history and diversity of religious education and are becoming increasingly confident in critically responding to the material they have learnt as well as offering personal reflection. Children talk about the worldviews they have studied with enthusiasm and have a clear understanding of the knowledge they have gained. Due to a variety of teaching and learning activities, many children find this subject fascinating and have a high recall of facts, stories and practices they have been taught. As much of the teaching of R.E. is based on the cycle of enquiry, the children are also becoming more proficient in giving opinions and supporting their ideas with reason, as well as responding to the views of others with respect.
Although the children are taught about the fundamental ideas and beliefs of religious and non-religious worldviews, they are also aware of the impact they have on our everyday lives. The children learn about the charitable work that many religious and non-religious groups organise, including humanitarian aid given to people around the world who need help due to issues of war. The children also engage in these charitable events by donating food, essential items or money at various points across the year. |