Teaching RE to pupils is a statutory obligation, which was placed on schools under the Education Act (1996). We acknowledge that parents/ carers have the right to withdraw their child(ren) wholly or partly from RE, without providing a reason. 

                                   Religious Education in Walsall               

We teach RE according to the LA’s Agreed Syllabus (2016). The Syllabus enables pupils to explore the religions of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.  It also enables the consideration of secular life stances. The Agreed Syllabus provides schools with guidance on which key stage the different religions should be explored in, but it states that Christianity must be taught throughout each key stage.

The Agreed Syllabus is built upon three aims:

A.  Pupils will know about and understand a range of religions and world views.

B. Pupils will be able to express their ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and world views.

C. Pupils will gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religious and world views.

Aims

At Alumwell Infant School we value the significance and importance of teaching high quality RE to our pupils. When children understand different religious beliefs and customs, they begin to accept differences between different religions and learn how to be respectful of others’. They accept that there are different religions and that people can have different ideas and beliefs to them. By exploring RE, they are able to reflect upon their own beliefs and to ask questions about religion in a safe environment.

Our Aims:

• For pupils to develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other major religions in Britain as a whole and in the local community.

• To help pupils respect different religions by exploring similarities and differences within and between them in order to develop a positive attitude towards living in a religiously diverse society.

• To help pupils understand the significance of religion and its contribution to their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

• To encourage pupils to express their own views in response to the material that they learn and to begin to ask their own questions about religion.

The RE Curriculum in the Foundation Stage

In Reception children are introduced to the different religions through the use of stories, discussion, continuous provision, role play and religious artefacts. Children learn about religion by exploring the six themes: special people, special stories, special places, special times, being special and special world. They are encouraged to talk about their own religion and how to respect others. In Reception, children will also celebrate a range of different festivals and engage in different customs and traditions.

The RE Curriculum in Key Stage 1

In Key Stage 1 the RE curriculum is broken down into 8 units of work. Each unit explores a different aspect of RE and encourages children to begin to express their own views in response to what they have learnt. Children will participate in discussions, debates, investigations and role play activities. Where appropriate, their work will be recorded in their topic books. In Key Stage 1 children celebrate a range of different religious festivals through collective worship and within their own classes.

RE Enrichment Through Educational Visits