RE
We base our teaching and learning style in RE on the key principle that good teaching in RE allows children both to learn about religious traditions and to reflect on what the religious ideas and concepts mean to them. Our teaching enables children to extend their own sense of values, and promotes their spiritual growth and development. We encourage children to think about their own views and values in relation to the themes and topics studied in the RE curriculum.
Intent
At Saxmundham Primary School, we aim to engage, inspire, challenge and encourage pupils by equipping them with the knowledge and skills to answer challenging questions, explore different religious beliefs, values and traditions and develop a more rigorous understanding of the numerous religious traditions, beliefs and practices that are followed in our multicultural society.
Implementation
We promote an enquiry-based approach using the Emmanuel Project, which covers the Suffolk Agreed Syllabus for RE from Key Stage One and Two and can be used to contribute to the learning experiences of the early learning goals within the Foundation Stage.
We enrich this through:
- Handling artefacts
- Exploring sacred texts
- Using imaginative play or drama to express feelings and ideas
- Responding to images, games, stories, art, music and dance,
- Meeting visitors from local religious communities
- Making visits to religious places of worship where possible, and where not, making use of videos and the internet
- Taking part in whole school events- (multi-faith days, Harvest Festival)
- Comparing religions and worldviews through discussion
- Debating and communicating religious belief, worldviews and philosophical ideas and answering and asking ultimate questions posed by these
Impact
RE will extend children’s knowledge and understanding of religions and beliefs, develop a religious vocabulary and interpret religious symbolism in a variety of forms reflect on questions of meaning, offering their own thoughtful and informed insights into religious and secular world-views explore ultimate questions of beliefs and values in relation to a range of contemporary issues in an ever-changing society.
The Right to withdraw pupils from RE
Religion and belief have become more visible in public life in recent years, making it important that all pupils should have an opportunity to engage in RE. However, the parent of a pupil at a community, foundation or voluntary school (or pupils themselves if they are aged 18 or over) may request that they be excused from all or part of the religious education (RE) provided.
Parents who wish to withdraw their children from RE should be aware of its aims and what is covered in the RE curriculum and that they are given the opportunity to discuss this if they wish. It should be made clear whether the withdrawal is from the whole RE curriculum or specific parts of it.
A pupil may be required to work in another area of the school, such as the library or break out area.
Whilst parents or carers have a right to withdraw children from RE, they should note that children may also encounter religions and beliefs and wider aspects of faith in other areas of the curriculum from which there is no right of withdrawal.
On occasion, spontaneous questions about religious matters are raised by pupils or issues related to religion arise in other curriculum subjects such as history or citizenship (PSHE) For example, schools promote community cohesion and help pupils to understand ideas about identity and diversity, feelings and emotions within both religious and non-religious contexts.
Managing a request to withdraw from RE
If pupils are withdrawn from RE, schools have a duty to supervise them, though not to provide additional teaching or to incur extra cost. Pupils will usually remain on school premises where it is feasible and appropriate.
