Religious Education

Mrs Edge leads the teaching of Religious Education in School.

Our Intent for Religious Education

Here, at Carr Hill Community Primary School, the aim of Religious Education is to help children to acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and another three religions represented in Great Britain; to appreciate the way that religious beliefs shape life and our behaviour, develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues and enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Religious Education is taught throughout the school in such a way as to reflect the overall aims, values, and philosophy of the school. At Carr Hill Community Primary School, Religious Education plays an important role, along with all other curriculum areas, particularly PSHCE and SEAL, in promoting the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of our children.

 Our Implementation for Religious Education

At Carr Hill Community Primary School, it has been agreed that having taken into account the requirements and guidelines presented in the Agreed Syllabus, the following religions have been selected for study:

• Christianity (in each Year group)
• Judaism (Year 1 and 2)
• Islam (Year 3 and 4)
• Hinduism (Year 5 and 6)

As Christianity is the predominant religion in the school’s pupil population and in the community surrounding the school, Christianity is the chosen faith for Progressed Study. It is encouraged that children explore a key idea, engage with the idea and then reflect. Each class has a RE ambassador which allows this to happen frequently.

There are no presumptions made as to the religious backgrounds and beliefs and values of the children and the staff.  We value the religious background of all members of the school community and hope that this will encourage individuals to share their own experiences with others freely.  All religions and their communities are treated with respect and sensitivity and we value the links, which are, and can be made between home, school, and a faith community.  We acknowledge that each religion studied can contribute to the education of all our pupils.  We promote teaching in Religious Education that stresses open enquiry and first-hand experiences wherever possible for both staff and children.

Curriculum aims

The role of Religious Education is to help prepare and equip all pupils for life in contemporary Britain by enabling them to acquire a good level of religious literacy. This means to gain an understanding of the diverse beliefs and religious practices of our faith communities, to understand the secular world view held by a number of people in our society, and to respect the right of all people to make these very personal choices.

We believe that pupils should have the opportunity:

TO EXPLORE the teachings, beliefs and practices of the principal faiths and belief systems in our society. This means that, for each of the faiths specified in the syllabus, they should be helped to acquire a core of knowledge and understanding of the key elements of the faith narrative, the principal stories, sacred texts, rituals, symbolism and lifestyles relating to them.

TO ENGAGE with the big questions about our life in the world, our value as people, our identity and our responsibilities. This means that pupils should be helped to respond to the big questions that their experience of life raises and to be able to express their thoughts relating their experiences and responses to those of other individuals and groups.

TO REFLECT on the challenges that are presented by living in a diverse world and to develop the skills and attitudes that enable people to live well by successfully accommodating difference. This means developing the ability to recognise bias, prejudice and discrimination in ourselves and others and to develop the ability to make informed judgements and responsible choices.

Section 375 of the Education Act 1996 requires that the Agreed Syllabus must reflect the fact that religious traditions in Great Britain are for the most part Christian but that the teaching and practices of the other religions represented in Great Britain must be taken into account.

The ‘other religions’ that are specified in the Gateshead Agreed Syllabus are:

In Early Years and Primary:

• Judaism
• Hinduism
• Islam