Kingsland C CE E Kingsland Primary Primary School

RE POLICY

Learn to Love Love to Learn

RE Policy
Mission Statement
Christian values inform our teaching and learning at Kingsland CE Primary School from policy to practice. Each person is cherished, supported and challenged as they develop spiritually, academically and physically. We aim to nurture individuals who are able to cope with lifes joys and disappointments and are able to engage in a lifelong search for meaning and purpose. Religious Education is based on the teaching and practice of the Anglican Church supported by the Diocese of Hereford. This Christian foundation is a distinctive hallmark of all that we seek to achieve. The Christian faith is presented in all its diversity and fullness, as are world faiths other than Christianity. Collective Worship is a vital part of every school day. When possible a member of clergy leads worship in school each week and regular services of celebration are held in the Parish Church. Partnerships with parents, governors, the local and wider communities are valued as we work together for the good of our children.

Aims of Religious Education The aims of Religious Education which inform the programmes of study and attainment targets are: to engage pupils in enquiring into and exploring questions arising from the study of religion and belief, so as to promote their personal, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development to provide pupils with knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other principal religious traditions and beliefs represented in Great Britain to develop their understanding of the ways in which beliefs influence other people in their behaviour, practices and outlook to enable pupils to apply the insights of the principal religious traditions to their own search for identity and significance to enable pupils to become aware of their own beliefs and values and to have a positive attitude to the search for meaning and purpose in life to encourage pupils to develop a positive attitude towards other people who hold religious beliefs different from their own

Objectives With these aims in mind, we try to provide opportunity for pupils to: develop their knowledge and understanding of, and their ability to respond to, Christianity and other principal religions represented in Great Britain explore issues within and between faiths to help them understand and respect different religions, beliefs, values and traditions (including ethical life stories), and understand the influence of these on individuals, societies, communities and cultures

consider questions of meaning and purpose in life learn about religious and ethical teaching, enabling them to make reasoned and informed judgements on religious and moral issues develop their sense of identity and belonging, preparing them for life as citizens in a multicultural society develop enquiry and response skills through the use of distinctive language, listening and empathy reflect on, analyse and evaluate their beliefs, values and practices and communicate their responses

Legal requirements RE in Kingsland C of E School is taught in accordance with the requirements of the schools Trust Deed, which requires us to educate the children in the principals of the Established Church, together with the Herefordshire Agreed Syllabus 2011 -2016. We also recognise and fully comply with: The conscience clause: we recognise that all parents have the right to withdraw their children from religious education. The legal requirement to report to parents annually on their childrens progress in religious education, assessed using intended learning outcomes and expectations.

Links with the church Pupils attend Church for acts of worship several times a year for all the major Christian festivals. Pupils also visit the church to explore and study the building, its artefacts and symbols. At the start of each school year, children joining the Reception Class are invited to join with families and friends of the church

for a 'Welcome Party' in the church. Year 6 pupils end their last day at Primary School in church with a 'Leavers' service. Several church members are governors of the school and other church members come into school regularly as classroom helpers to work with children. The Rector of Kingsland Church is a School Governor. There are occasionally opportunities for the school to extend its links with the wider church community by attending services and workshops at Leominster Priory Church and Hereford Cathedral. Our school has a strong partnership, founded through the Leominster Deanery link with Tengeru, with Moivaro Primary School in Tanzania. Our school maintains close links with the Diocese of Hereford, especially the Education team.

Teaching and Learning Religious Education has equal standing in relation to the core and other foundation subjects within the schools curriculum. Pupils will be taught using the Herefordshire Agreed Syllabus 2011-2016 for Religious Education. The exploration of key questions will encourage pupils to develop and use skills of reflection, interpretation, analysis and application as well as developing their knowledge and understanding of religion and belief. There are two attainment targets for Religious Education which express the two main dimensions of RE: AT1 Learning about religion and belief AT2 Learning from religion and belief

Attainment Target 1: Learning about religion and belief Learners knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to:
religious beliefs, teachings and sources

practices and ways of life expressing meaning

Attainment Target 2: Learning from religion and belief How learners express their own responses and insights in relation to questions and issues of:
identity, diversity and belonging meaning, purpose and truth values and commitments

Religions to be taught Christianity is to be taught as the predominant religion. We also take into account the beliefs, viewpoints and ideas of children and their families. Foundation Stage: Christianity and aspects of other principal religions. KS1: Christianity and Judaism. KS2: Christianity plus Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism. The programmes of study are designed to enable pupils not only to learn about and understand religious beliefs, practices and lifestyles but also to respond through reflection on their own experience to the insights and teachings of these faiths. This reflection on beliefs, practices, lifestyles, moral values, and ultimate questions, is as important as the development of knowledge and understanding of religions.

Teaching Strategies Religious Education is generally taught on a weekly basis, but sometimes delivered through a class topic or as a whole-school RE day. Teachers may develop their own key questions linked to the themes in the syllabus, allowing links with other subject areas where appropriate.

RE makes a strong contribution to the Early Learning Goals for children at the foundation stage. Pupils follow the themes 'Special People', 'Special Times', Special Places' and 'Being Special'. Key Stage 1 children are taught by class teachers. Key Stage 2 children are taught by class teachers, following a rolling programme of study units planned for the different levels of ability within the class. Lessons may involve whole class teaching, group discussion and individual or group work. Creative approaches and active learning strategies enable children to express their thoughts, feelings, ideas and questions; for example through music, art, drama or dance. Opportunities are provided for moments of stillness, peace and reflection. RE may sometimes relate to other areas of the curriculum being studied at that time, and has close links to PSHE and Citizenship. RE promotes moral, social and cultural development and plays a significant part in values education. RE plays a leading role in promoting spiritual development.

Curriculum Planning Long-term and medium-term plans are developed from the Herefordshire Agreed Syllabus 2011-2016 for Religious Education. Short-term planning is the responsibility of individual teachers, supported by the co-ordinator. Pupils are provided with a range of experiences and opportunities to enrich and broaden their learning.

Special Educational Needs Work relating to the programmes of study that is planned for pupils with special educational needs should set suitable learning challenges and take account of the targets in Individual Education Plans and Intervention Planning. Material may be selected from earlier or later Key Stages 7

where necessary to enable pupils to progress and demonstrate achievement.

Equal Opportunities Teachers should enable pupils to begin to develop some sensitive understanding of matters relating to gender, race, other cultures and differences between people in respect of their abilities. Such understanding should be approached within the context of perspectives which religious education brings to it and, in particular, of the notion of equal worth of all persons. Resources There is a Religious Education section in the school library. Artefact and project boxes are obtained regularly from the Schools Library Service. Other resources are located centrally and in classrooms: Good News Bibles Variety of Childrens Bibles Bible Stories Lion Storyteller Bible Resource books and copy masters Various artefacts Collections of prayers Primary RE RE Today series of resource books Videos: Pathways of Belief BBC Animated World Faiths Faith Stories The Miracle Maker CDs: Exploring World Religions Encyclopaedia of World Religions RE Quest Master Faiths PowerPoint presentations

KS1
Autumn 1st half

2 year rolling programme Year A

Overview

Year B
3b. Belonging What does it mean to belong to a faith community? 2a. Giving thanks 3b. Belonging What does it mean to belong to a faith community? (ctd) Advent Why is Christmas special for believers? 2a. Angels 1c. Story Why are holy books special? Christianity Bible. Lent 1c. Story Why are holy books special? Judaism Torah

Harvest (optional) Autumn 2nd half

Celebrations Christmas Spring 1st half

Lent Spring 2nd half

Celebrations -Easter Summer 1st half

Why is Easter special for believers? 2a. Celebration/Hot cross buns 1a. Believing What do creation stories tell us about God? Judaism

Summer 2nd half

KS2

4 year rolling programme

Overview Summer Beliefs in action in the world 3c. How and why do religions teach that people should care for others and the natural world? Beliefs and questions 1a. What is God like? How does believing in God influence peoples lives? Religion, family and community- Christianity 3b,2c. Contrasting denominations. Anglican cathedral. Roman Catholic, Quaker, Baptist, Methodist, Other Express, explore through the arts. The journey of life and death 2a. Why do believers often see life as a journey and what significance experiences mark this?

Year A

Year B

Year C

Religion, family and community 3b. How do families practise their faith? How does it influence their lives? Religion and the individual 3a. How do we decide what is right and wrong? What do religions say?

Islam 1a. 1b. 1c. 2c. 3a. 3b. 3c

Worship, pilgrimage, sacred places- Christianity 2c. Pilgrimage What is worship and how is it expressed?

Year D

Sacred writings 1c. What makes some books sacred and what influence do they have on believers lives?

Sikhism 1a. 1b. 1c. 2a. 2b. 2c. 3a.

Christmas, Easter (4-6 hours per year)

Symbols and religious expression 2b. How and why do people celebrate and remember religious festivals? Christianity. Christmas, Easter, Lent, Pentecost, Advent. (Harvest optional)

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