At Donnington Wood CE Junior School, we follow the Telford & Wrekin SACRE Agreed Syllabus

Our School Vision

Our school is a community where each person is valued as a child of God. We are a Church of England school, inspired and guided by the life and teaching of Jesus. We work together to create a caring, friendly and safe school family, to enable the whole school community to flourish and each person reach their full God-given potential.

This page is devised to support this vision, and has the following intentions:

Pupils are empowered to develop the hope and perseverance necessary to engage the challenges of learning in the context of school and the wider world.

Teaching staff seek out every opportunity to ensure that all pupils flourish in RE lessons, developing wisdom and creativity through an ambitious and broad curriculum that challenges expectations, deepens knowledge and develops skills.

RE lessons are inclusive, so everyone is valued and respected – and tolerance and diversity are celebrated.

Intent

Religious education has a unique place as a central subject in the curriculum of Donnington Wood CE Juniors. It is neither a core nor a foundation subject; the 1988 Education Act states that ‘Religious Education has equal standing in relation to core subjects of the National Curriculum in that it is compulsory for all registered pupils’.

Through our Religious Education curriculum, we aim:

· to engage pupils in enquiring into and exploring questions arising from the study of religion and worldviews, so as to promote their personal, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

· to provide learners with knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other principal religious traditions and beliefs represented in our community and country.

· to develop their understanding of the ways in which beliefs influence people in their behaviour, practices and outlook.

· to enable learners to apply the insights of the principal religious traditions to their own search for identity and significance.

· to enable learners 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 learners to develop a positive attitude towards other people who hold religious beliefs different from their own.

Implementation

Legal requirements for Religious Education:

Religious Education is a statutory subject of the curriculum for all pupils in each year group and ‘should be provided for all registered pupils except those withdrawn at the request of their parents.’ (s 71 SSFA 1998)

Parents have the right to request that their son or daughter be excused from all or part of the RE provided at school.

The syllabus should ‘reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian, while taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain.’ (s375 (3) Education Act 1996)

We ensure that we comply with the legal requirements by following the Telford & Wrekin Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education and Understanding Christianity.

Religious Education is taught on a weekly basis. Lessons are planned and delivered in a variety of ways ensuring that all children can access and participate in lessons. Interactive, practical activities encourage the children to discuss their ideas and extend their understanding of difficult concepts and challenging questions.

Pupils’ progress in RE is based on the expected outcomes outlined in the Agreed Syllabus and in Understanding Christianity, which in turn have been developed in line with guidance produced nationally.

Progress in RE is reported annually to parents and has a prominent position in the end of year report.

Impact

Religious Education at Donnington Wood CE Juniors develops pupils’…

· knowledge and understanding of, and their ability to respond to, Christianity, other principal world religions, other religious traditions and world views;

· understanding and respect for different religions, beliefs, values and traditions (including ethical life stances), through exploring issues within and between faiths;

· understanding of the influence of faith and belief on individuals, societies, communities and cultures;

· skills of enquiry and response through the use of religious vocabulary, questioning and empathy;

· skills of reflection, expression, application, analysis and evaluation of beliefs, values and practices, and the communication of personal responses to these.

Religious Education at Donnington Wood CE Juniors encourages pupils to…

· consider challenging questions of the meaning and purpose of life; beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human;

· understand the influence of religion on individuals, families, communities and cultures;

· learn from different religions, beliefs, values and traditions while exploring questions of meaning and their own beliefs;

· learn about religious and ethical teaching, enabling them to make reasoned and informed responses to religious, moral and social issues;

· develop their sense of identity and belonging, preparing them for life as citizens in a plural, global society;

· develop respect for and sensitivity to others, in particular those whose faiths and beliefs are different from their own.

Religious Education at Donnington Wood CE Juniors enhances pupils’…

· awareness and understanding of religions and beliefs, teachings, practices and forms of expression;

· ability to reflect on, consider, analyse, interpret and evaluate issues of truth, belief, faith and ethics and to communicate their responses.

Religious Education at Donnington Wood CE Juniors offers…

· opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development.