Religious Education

Our vision for our R.E curriculum is based on the national guidance issued by Walsall council in June 2021 and follows the agreed Walsall Syllabus for Religious Education 2021-2026.

Walsall is a vibrant and diverse Borough. Our population includes significant communities of Christians, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs and smaller groups of other significant faith communities including Jews, Jains, Buddhists and members of the Baha’i faith. Walsall is a culturally diverse town where people of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi background form the largest minority ethnic groups. Many children in Walsall come from families that hold non-religious life stances. Our RE syllabus allows all learners to share their experiences and to learn from one another and the religions and beliefs in our community.

In line with the law, Walsall’s Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education expects that schools will enable pupils to explore Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, as well as Christianity. RE makes a major contribution to pupils’ awareness, appreciation and exploration of the British Values, as required by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate. The Walsall agreed syllabus shows teachers how to connect RE in appropriate and suitable ways to the promotion of British Values and of opportunities for pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. RE is not coercive: none of the aims of RE encourage pupils to adopt or reject particular religious beliefs and practices. Instead, RE encourages all learners to be thoughtful about their own beliefs and worldviews in the light of the religions and beliefs they study. RE is not about making pupils into believers but tries to help them become literate and articulate about religions and beliefs, and to be thoughtful members of a plural society, so that in learning from religion they are able to make informed choices about how they want to live their lives whilst also understanding more about the faiths and beliefs of other people they meet. As such, it is relevant to every pupil and every citizen of Walsall.

A minimum 5% of curriculum time is required for teaching RE.

This means in practice that schools are expected to allocate:

· Key Stage 1: 36 hours of tuition per year (e.g. 50 minutes a week or some short sessions implemented through continuous provision)

· Key Stage 2:45 hours of tuition per year (e.g. an hour a week, or less than an hour a week plus a series of RE days)

In Early Years the children learn about RE through the subject Understanding of the World through circle time discussions, adult led activities and during their play and independent choice.

The curriculum for religious education aims to ensure that all pupils:

A. Know about and understand a range of religions and world views, so that they can:

Describe, explain and examine beliefs and practices, recognising the diversity which exists within and between communities.

Identify, investigate and respond to questions posed by, and responses offered by some of the sources found in religions and world views.

Appreciate and appraise the nature, significance and impact of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning.

B. Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and world views, so that they can:

Explain reasonably their ideas about how beliefs, practices and forms of expression influence individuals and communities.

Express with increasing sensitivity their personal reflections and critical responses to questions and teachings about identity, diversity, meaning and value.

C. Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and world views, so that they can:

Find out about and investigate key concepts and questions of belonging, meaning, purpose and truth, responding creatively.

Enquire into what enables different communities to live together respectfully for the wellbeing of all;

Articulate beliefs, values and commitments clearly in order to explain reasons why they may be important in their own and other people’s lives.

Right of withdrawal

This was first granted in 1944 when RE was actually religious instruction and carried with it connotations of induction into the Christian faith. RE is very different now – open, broad, exploring a range of religious and non-religious worldviews. However, in the UK, parents still have the right to withdraw their children from RE on the grounds that they wish to provide their own religious education. (School Standards and Framework Act 1998 S71 (3). This will be the parents’ responsibility. However, it is good practice to talk to parents to ensure that they understand the aims and value of RE before honouring this right. Students aged 18 or over have the right to withdraw themselves from RE.

Mrs S Rayit

RE Lead

Special Educational Needs in RE

How do we ensure all children can access RE lessons?

Religious Education lessons are differentiated in a variety of ways. We ensure that we vary our teaching styles to suit the children in the class through visual aids, hands on learning, auditory clips as well as discussion and simplification of language where needed. Each group of children will have a variety of work to complete during lessons, including matching activities, drawing skills and written pieces. The children may also attend different religious buildings throughout their time at Barcroft Primary, this should support the SEND children by visiting places that they are not familiar with, also encouraging their independence and supporting their personal development and resilience.

How does RE at Barcroft Primary prepare children with Special Educational Needs for the future?

RE prepares children with special educational needs for adulthood in a number of ways. Sometimes children find it difficult to express themselves but RE gives children time to think about their own ideas regarding Religion and things of a spiritual nature. It gives them a chance to reflect on their own understanding of different stories from the Bible or other significant religious books and readings, this in turn will give them an opportunity to reflect on their own beliefs and ideas about the World, including religions around the world. RE encourages conversation about different religions and cultures, this could encourage SEND children to engage with the children on their table or in their classroom, they will be encouraged to offer their thoughts and opinions on a variety of religions and faiths. This could support the children in later life by encouraging them to have their own ideas and could give them the courage to be able to voice these ideas as an adult. It also shows to children that people have different ideas, just as people have different religions and faiths but that everyone is entitled to their own ideas, just as everyone is entitled to believe in their own religion or faith or just not believe in anything at all.

How to challenge more able pupils

How do we challenge pupils in RE lessons? Pupils who are more able in RE are likely to:

· show high levels of insight into, and discernment beyond, the obvious and ordinary;

· make sense of, and draw meaning from, religious symbols, metaphors, texts and practices;

· be sensitive to, or aware of, the numinous or the mystery of life, and have a feeling for how these are explored and expressed;

· understand, apply and transfer ideas and concepts across topics in RE and into other religious and cultural contexts.

More able children in RE will be working at a higher level which can be seen in their books through differentiated work. The questions for more able pupils encourage them to think critically, make links between their learning and consider a range of viewpoints from different religions building upon their prior learning and personal experiences and opinions. More able pupils are also given a challenge question to clarify and extend their thinking. More able children also take on more of a role in in Religious assemblies including Easter, Harvest and Christmas services by reading prayers and acting out key parts of the story.

What jobs can RE lead to in the future for more abled pupils?

RE is a subject which allow children the opportunity to discuss their different ideas and how they see the world differently to other people would support their future progression within most jobs. RE supports children’s ability to have a debate/discussion about ideas and opinions that they may not share but still gives them the ability to be understanding and more tolerant of others and their beliefs, these beliefs may not be linked to religion but the wider world. Being more able in RE can lead to many jobs in the future such as:

· Lecturer

· RE teacher

· Community development work

· Charity fundraiser

· Solicitor

· Youth worker

· Mediator

· Inclusion officer

· Museum curator

· Writer and lots lots more.

Please find below a range of useful websites/resources to develop your child’s understanding of RE:

Using the BBC website is extremely useful for showing videos of different religions. (KS1)