World Aware

In RE, children study a range of religious and non-religious worldviews in accordance with our locally agreed syllabus. This allows children to have a greater understanding of the world we live in. Key questions encourage children to reflect upon their own thoughts in order to develop an understanding of the world and different religions and beliefs in local, national and global contexts. RE teaching accounts for ways in which people put their beliefs into action in diverse ways within their communities and the wider world. Planned experiences also allow us to visit places of worship and have visitors who share their experience of religion.  

Belonging

Belonging is thoroughly explored in the teaching of RE where children are encouraged to reflect upon their own beliefs as well as the beliefs of others. They consider how religious and non-religious worldviews give a sense of belonging and how this impacts upon people’s behaviour. Religious Education is linked to our school community, to Gloucestershire and to the breadth of other religions and cultures that are explored in RE.  

Well-being

Our school values and vision put pupil’s wellbeing at the centre of all that we do and this is also encouraged through RE.  Children are encouraged to consider key questions about identity and diversity and how people throughout history, and today, have impacted upon well-being for all humans. Furthermore, we consider how we too can be a change for the better in the world today. We look at many values in action and how these can be used in our own lives to support our well-being and that of others.  

Spirituality

As part of RE, we investigate what some people mean by living spiritually and what this can mean for us. We consider how some people have seen an ‘ow moment’ in the world, how they have reacted and what the impact of this has been. We look at many ‘wow moments’, the sense of awe and wonder at key events for a range of religions and how this impacts on the way in which people choose to live. Children are encouraged to take time to reflect at the beginning and end of each RE lesson on their responses to concepts taught. This enables them to consider what their learning means for them as well as giving a space for children to consider questions raised by religion.  We encourage children to develop spiritually themselves.  

Possibilities

One of the principle aims of RE is that pupils gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion. Children leave school with an understanding of principle beliefs that allows them to behave appropriately and respectfully towards others. Children are able to talk about their own beliefs and values, are able to discuss their own beliefs whilst respecting those of others, and are able to consider how their beliefs and values impact upon their future aspirations. 

At Aylburton C of E Primary School, Religious Education lessons are intended to offer a broad and rich RE curriculum to allow for coverage of the areas prescribed in our locally agreed syllabus. We allow for a variety of ways to explore religions, our community and personal development and wellbeing. Underpinning our RE curriculum is our vision: learning and flourishing together, through God’s love. Our Christian values: Compassion, Courage, Perseverance, Respect, Thankfulness and Trust are also explored through the teaching of RE.

Our lessons provide a high-quality, coherent and progressive experience of RE which allows children to develop and explore their own ideas about religion in a safe environment. Through each unit, children will learn about and understand a range of religions and world views. They will be able to make sense of a range of religious and non-religious beliefs; understand the impact of religious and non-religious beliefs; make connections between religious and non-religious beliefs, concepts, practices and ideas studied.

Our teaching of RE aims to be inclusive and to support all our learners through high-quality teaching.  Our overall intent is for children to go from us with a breadth of knowledge of a range of religious and non-religious beliefs allowing them to value all other beings and show respect to all other people, of similar or differing views. The RE curriculum ensures that children are equipped to deal with future challenges and we hope that they enjoy the study of religion and take this with them into their further education. Aspects of the curriculum that are more challenging and require our children to think about the big questions in life prepare them for their future and allows them to begin to determine their own beliefs. During RE teaching children are often told that their own opinions on the subject are valued and that they are able to make up their own minds about their beliefs. This shows children that RE is a subject that is different to others. It also means that children value themselves as well as showing respect for and valuing others that they meet in life.  

Chestnut class nativity