At Parklands Community Primary School we are theologists!

Intent

At Parklands, we have designed our R.E. curriculum with the intent that our children will become resilient, accepting, mindful and inquisitive learners. Our R.E. curriculum allows children to discover and gain an insight into religions within the world that we live. We believe that our R.E. curriculum enables children to understand others beliefs and make connections between their own values. It is our role to ensure children are being inquisitive by asking questions about the world around them by allowing them to gain high quality experiences.

We will deliver a curriculum that:

• Celebrates the diverse and rich community at Parklands
• Inspires creative learning through excellent teaching practices that build on prior R.E. learning and allow for repetition and progression of skills.
• Our curriculum embraces the community in which it is situated, recognising local places of worship.
• Is inclusive, develops self-confidence and identifies that all our children are unique and therefore we should all be tolerant of each other’s beliefs.
• Encourages our children to be inquisitive about others beliefs developing inquiry based R.E. skills that allow them to culturally aware of the world around them.
• Promotes equality and understanding of the British values and ensures they are prepared for life in modern Britain.

Implementation

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of the curriculum for all pupils in each year group and ‘should be provided for all registered pupils except those withdrawn at the request of their parents.’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 West Sussex Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education 2020-2025.

Religious Education is taught on a weekly basis, using the Jigsaw R.E scheme of work.  

Jigsaw RE is an enquiry-based scheme of work, covering the 6 principal world faiths in a progressive way from Reception to Year 6. In reception, the learning is closely matched to Birth to 5 matters to contribute meaningfully to your child’s holistic development. Throughout all the enquiries, the children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural education is carefully considered.

Each enquiry lasts for half a term and begins with a “big” question such as “What is the best way for a Christian/Jew/Muslim etc. to show commitment to God?” The children then start discussing the theme of the enquiry (in this case, commitment) from their own experience. What have they shown commitment to? Brownies? Cubs? Their sporting team? Playing an instrument?

Only when the children fully understand the concept they are considering, do they then move on to investigating what the people following the studied religion believe about it. They will spend approximately 3 lessons on this, learning in a variety of ways, so they can adapt their responses and come to a measured conclusion. In week 5 they will complete an activity which can assess their learning, by answering their “big” question. The assessment activities are child friendly and can be answered in a variety of ways, as long as the child can justify their view with the knowledge they have gained throughout the enquiry. This demonstrates the level of critical thinking that the children can apply – a valuable skill for them throughout the school curriculum.

The final week in every enquiry gives the children time to reflect on what they have learnt about the concept and apply to it their own lives, thus allowing them to form their own beliefs and identity. For example, learning that Sikhs share their food with all who attend has taught me ……… about sharing that I would like to take forward with me. These lessons are often very creative and children have opportunities to make items to express themselves in ways other than just writing.

Pupils’ progress in RE is based on the expected outcomes outlined in the West Sussex Agreed Syllabus.

Teachers track individual pupil’s progress in this way, whilst also bearing in mind that the statements do not cover all aspects of teaching and learning in RE.

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

Impact

• Children will have a stronger awareness of the world around them and will be mindful of the beliefs of others.
• Children will feel they are valued as individuals and that their beliefs are valued and celebrated.
• Enjoyment of the R.E. curriculum will promote creativity, achievement, confidence and inquisitive minds.
• Children feel safe to learn new things and share their beliefs with others in an accepting environment.
• Children leave the school with a sense of belonging to a tightly knit community where they have the confidence and skills to make decisions, self-evaluate, make connections and become lifelong learners.