RE

RE at Blandford St Mary CE Primary School                                                         

Introduction

As a Church of England School, Religious and Worldview Education plays an important role, along with all other curriculum areas, particularly PSHE and the teaching of British Values, in promoting the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of our children.

Curriculum Intent Statement

The Christian faith is the foundation of everything that we do at Blandford St Mary primary school. In all learning and life experiences, we aim to fulfil our school vision ‘Let all that you do be done in love’ We promote an environment where all children feel loved , accepted ,valued as individuals and where our Christian faith affects not only what we teach, but also how we teach. We believe Religious and Worldview Education has a significant role for the development of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. It promotes respect and open-mindedness towards others with different faiths and beliefs and encourages pupils to develop their sense of identity and belonging through self-awareness and reflection. The principle aim of RWE is to engage pupils in an enquiry approach where they can develop an understanding and appreciation for the expression of beliefs, cultural practices and influence of principle religions and worldviews in the local, national and wider global community. We aim to understand the way that religious beliefs shape our lives and our behaviour, develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues and enhance our spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Curriculum Implementation Statement

Our RE teaching is informed by two different Church of England approved teaching schemes; Understanding Christianity and the Emmanuel Project. By using these schemes alongside each other, teachers are able to design exciting and challenging teaching and learning activities for each lesson and ensure children are given the opportunity to become religiously literate.

Understanding Christianity is based upon seven core Christian concepts God, Creation, Fall, People of God, Incarnation, Gospel, Salvation, Kingdom of God. Children will explore the different concepts as they move through the school, starting in Foundation Stage and developing a greater depth of understanding by the time they reach Year 6. Understanding Christianity’s approach to teaching about Christianity builds up pupils’ encounters with biblical concepts through texts, placing the texts and concepts within the wider Bible story. Each unit addresses a concept, through some key questions, exploring core Bible texts, their impact for Christians, and possible implications for pupils.

The units of work usually begin with a ‘way in’, then flow from ‘Making sense of the text’, on to ‘Understanding the impact’ of the text and the concept on the Church community and Christian living, then explore ‘Making connections’. The clear teaching sequence begins with an overarching ‘big question’. Individual lessons are designed around an enquiry question, which children are expected to be able to answer at the end of the lesson. This ensures that children can secure their learning in small steps, with teaching informed by continuous assessment of and for learning and misconceptions addressed at the point in time.

At the end of learning sequences, children use their accumulated knowledge to answer their key over-arching enquiry question. We use the Emmanuel project to teach RE in EYFS linking each term’s unit with the Christian concept, each unit also has an ‘encounter’ with a worldview through stories. In Y1 to Y6 we use the Emmanuel project for our worldviews teaching units and these follow an enquiry-based approach. We use a variety of teaching methods including art, music, discussion, drama, the use of artefacts, pictures and stories. Through worship, as well as in our RE lessons, we aim to give children time to reflect and evaluate and this can be seen in our class reflection journals. From Year 2 upwards all the children have RE books to record learning,  EYFS  and Year 1 have floor books.

Curriculum Impact Statement

We aim to ensure that through their R.E and W learning children at Blandford St Mary develop their sense of self, identity and belonging. They are able to make links between their own lives and those of others in their community and in the wider world. Our children are developing an understanding of other people’s cultures and ways of life and worship, which they are then able to communicate to the wider community. They will feel valued as individuals and that their beliefs are valued and celebrated, and feel safe to learn new things and share their beliefs with others in an accepting environment.