“What I’m not confused about is the world needing much more love, no hate, no prejudice, no bigotry and more unity, peace and understanding. Period.” – Stevie Wonder

The intention of the RE department is to prepare pupils for life in Modern Britain by  encouraging religious and racial tolerance via an understanding of different cultures. Lessons will challenge stereotypes, promote cohesion and tackle extremism.   Young people will develop their own beliefs and values, and we will  promote the virtues of respect and empathy, which are important in our diverse society. We aim to foster civilised debate and reasoned argument, and help pupils to understand the place of religion and belief in the modern world.

Some examples of Big Questions 

Where did the Universe come from? 
What is Big Bang theory? 
How did religion begin?
What is God? 
What happens when you die? 
What is a Hindu, a Buddhist, a Sikh, a Jew, a Christian or a Muslim? 
How are they the same? 
How are they different?
How do religious believers explain evil in the world? 

Some examples of Ethical Questions

Who should look after the planet? 
What is speciesism?
Should same sex marriage be allowed to happen in a place of worship? 
Is the death penalty wrong?
When does a human life begin?
Are you pro life or pro choice? 
Is censorship always wrong?
Are terrorists really Jihadists?
Is divorce too easy nowadays?
What is extremism?

As well as developing cultural capital by promoting wide ranging discussions.  We also seek to develop pupils’ range of vocabulary by using, and encouraging pupils to use, key language that is identified in our curriculum maps. Links to other subjects are developed where appropriate and current geopolitical issues are discussed where linked to the topic being studied.

Cultural Capital is also instilled by using effective questioning to reveal and then address misconceptions.

Visits to places of faith will be arranged in order to show pupils that faith is a real part of many lives.

All pupils are able to access the curriculum and complete challenging tasks through appropriate scaffolding and ensuring that they can understand the vocabulary used in the learning material presented to them.  Effective questioning establishes what has been understood and enables the teacher to intervene where needed.

The department seeks to develop literacy by using more reading activities to present information.  We also check comprehension of reading activities by using questioning and setting comprehension tasks. Pupils are asked to complete extended writing tasks throughout the curriculum.

The department is aware of its responsibility to develop mathematical fluency and currently there are some mathematical activities in the foundation stage, for example using knowledge of positive and negative numbers to make a timeline of religions.

Pupils are challenged with extended writing tasks involving detailed explanations and evaluation of arguments. All pupils are encouraged to complete extended tasks and are enabled to do so by breaking down activities into manageable sections and by creating scaffolds to work from.

Assessments check the acquisition of knowledge and fluency of knowledge.  Pupils are helped to fill in the gaps in knowledge with the aid of knowledge organisers.  Weaknesses in the fluency of knowledge are addressed by asking pupils to respond to verbal and written feedback.