RE Agreed Syllabus
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Miss Becky Williams
R.E Lead
When teaching Religious Education at Heamoor School, we believe that it helps pupils to learn about different cultures and to understand how religious beliefs influence individuals, communities, societies and cultures.
We believe all pupils must have their entitlement to religious education as part of a broad and balanced curriculum. RE has a key role in the promotion of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, which benefits them as individuals and others within their communities. We welcome a syllabus which takes the local seriously, whilst not ignoring the national and global aspects of religious education.
Rationale
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.
(Taken from the Cornwall Agreed Syllabus 2020 - 2025)
Pupils at Heamoor School have one Religious Education a week, as well as their closely related PSHE lesson.
We know that Religious Education develops pupils' knowledge and understanding of Christianity, other principal religions, other religious traditions and other world views that offer answers to questions. Pupils are encouraged to learn from different religions, beliefs, values and traditions, while also exploring their own beliefs and questions of meaning. It also encourages pupils to look at their own sense of identity and belonging, to grow as an individual within their community and as a global citizen. An important aspect and purpose of the lessons is to develop respect and tolerance for others, alongside speaking and listening skills, thinking skills and questioning. RE supports and prepares our children to become positive citizens in their communities, laying down the foundations for when they become adults, gain employment and develop the skills needed to be lifelong learners. As such, our RE curriculum plays a crucial role in linking together our British Values, PSHE and SMSC focus areas.
The 3 main aims of RE, taken from the Cornwall Agreed Syllabus are:
1. 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.
2. 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 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 commitments 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.
Which religions are taught at Heamoor School?
The Cornwall Agreed Syllabus (2020 – 2025), which Heamoor School uses to implement its RE curriculum, requires that all pupils develop understanding of Christianity in each key stage. In addition, across the age range, pupils will develop understanding of the principal religions represented in the UK, in line with the law. These are Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism (Sikhism and Buddhism are later covered in secondary school as part of the Key Stage 3 curriculum). Furthermore, children from families where non-religious worldviews are held are represented in almost all of our classrooms. These worldviews, including for example Humanism, will also be the focus for study in thematic units.
Pupils are to study in depth the religious traditions of the following groups:
4–5s Reception Children will encounter Christianity and other faiths, as part of their growing sense of self, their own community and their place within it. Consideration of other religions and non-religious world views can occur at any key stage, as appropriate to the school context.
5–7s Key Stage 1 Christians, Jews and Muslims.
7–11s Key Stage 2 Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Jews.
Each unit starts with a ‘big question’ for the pupils. See the curriculum overview document below to see the coverage of the different religions across our school and the associated 'big questions' for each unit.CURRICULUM KERNEWEK: ‘CK4RE’
How our RE curriculum links with the local area
As part of the Cornwall Agreed Syllabus 2020 - 2025, pupils will look at 3 units which specifically explore RE links with the local area of Cornwall. The units are planned in for Key Stage 1, Lower Key Stage 2 and Upper Key Stage 2).
Please see the document below for details of the 3 units and what is covered during each one.