Religious Education
Ambition
Our aim is for all children to experience the awe and wonder of different faiths and religions. Our approach enables children to understand both key similarities and differences between religions, as well as how people implement these beliefs into their everyday lives. Through this teaching approach, children learn to demonstrate a deep-rooted tolerance and respect for others.
Implementation
Our RE curriculum develops pupils’ knowledge and understanding of a wide range of religions, religious traditions and secular world views, and explores their responses to life’s challenges. Curriculum structure follows the Northamptonshire Agreed Syllabus for RE. This enables year groups to explore Christianity throughout their time at primary school, and from Y1 upwards, understand and contrast their growing knowledge of religion with another world religion. Children have the opportunity to explore artefacts associated with the religion and explore their places of worship. These opportunities and experiences create memories that promote positive engagement with each religion as they progress through school.
Whilst learning about each religion’s key content, discussions about religion develop progressively year on year as our curriculum includes progressive skills centred on tolerance, citizenship, constructive comparisons and communication for each year group. In doing so, we hope to develop understanding, welcoming children who take interest in other people’s beliefs.
Children explore their learning through three key focuses inline with the Northamptonshire Agreed Syllabus, these are:
Philosophy
Pupils will examine philosophical and ethical questions using their knowledge of different worldviews. They will question and consider how these ideas may challenge their perspectives and identify potential connections between the ideas and beliefs they learn about and their lives and experiences.
Social Science
Pupils will explore how and why individuals put their beliefs into action for example by learning about people’s behaviour, actions, and moral/ethical decision-making. This will be observed in various forms within their daily routines, local communities, and the wider world. They will develop an appreciation for the varied ways people live out their beliefs, considering the contexts in which these beliefs are expressed.
Theology
Through this lens, pupils identify and understand the core beliefs and ideas that shape individuals’ perspectives on the world. Pupils examine how people with different worldviews understand and interpret their core beliefs, and how various sources inform these beliefs of authority. Through this exploration, pupils develop the skills to analyse and interpret different beliefs and concepts, recognising the significance of context and perspective in shaping meaning. By doing so, they gain a deeper understanding of the complexity and diversity of worldviews.
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Philosophy
Pupils will examine philosophical and ethical questions using their knowledge of different
worldviews. They will question and consider how these ideas may challenge their
perspectives and identify potential connections between the ideas and beliefs they learn
about and their lives and experiences
Coverage is as follows:
Year One – Christianity & Judaism
Children explore the Christian way of life through investigating ways of worship, important places, people and things. In Year One, children also learn about the fundamental beliefs and ways of life for people who follow the Jewish faith.
Year Two – Christianity & Islam
Our children continue to build on their prior learning and learn about how Muslims live and what they believe. They will also have the opportunity to learn about the importance of different festivals; consider forgiveness and learn all about special holy spaces.
Year Three – Christianity & Hinduism
In Year Three, children continue to explore the awe and wonder of different religions with the introduction of Hinduism. They also continue to deepen their understanding of Judaism learning about Passover and how different communities welcome people into their religion.
Year Four – Deepen & Review
In Year Four, our children continue to deepen their knowledge in the religions that they have already explored. They also consider how different religions give back to their communities; why different people view the creation differently and what people do in difficult times.
Year Five – Christianity & Sikhism
Children continue to build on their knowledge of the different religions that they have explored, by considering whether Easter is a commemoration or celebration for Christians; the Jewish laws around food and why the Prophet Muhammad is so special to Muslims. During Year Five, our children are also introduced to Sikhism, reflecting on their own personal opinions and faith.
Year Six – Buddhism, Humanism & Christianity
In Year Six, children continue to build on their understanding of the different religions that have explored, discussing why Jerusalem is a scared place; whether science and religion are in conflict when it comes to creation and what it means to be a Christian. Our children also learn about Buddhism and Humanism, making comparisons to the other religions that they have studied.
Impact
As we share with our children the understanding of a breadth of religions and belief systems, we communicate consistently that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, and that it is important to welcome and celebrate differences and be tolerant of each other.
Pineham Barns children leave primary school ready for the rest of their education with an open mind, an awareness and positive appreciation of society’s diversity, and the potential to make a positive contribution to modern Britain and British society as they mature.