At Westfield Primary Academy, we believe that a high-quality religious education will help pupils’ gain a coherent knowledge and understanding, where they can articulate clearly and confidently their personal beliefs, ideas, values and experiences.
RE is taught using the ‘Discovery RE’ scheme. It adapts an enquiry-based approach to teaching and learning. Religious Education is a key player in engendering knowledge and understanding however, does not teach children to passively accept, but rather encourages evaluation and critical thinking, equipping them to consider beliefs and positions they encounter. Progression is evident through building upon the pupil’s prior knowledge, allowing them to follow the steps of engaging and investigating the different religions, leading to the process of evaluating and expressing to ensure understanding and progress is made. This should inspire and build each child’s ‘religious literacy’, helping them to understand the nature and diversity of religion and belief in the world in which they live and the relationships between different groups of society.
Aims of the Religious Education Curriculum
Although, the Suffolk syllabus is not required in Early Years, the children explore the three major concepts of creation, incarnation and salvations in a way that they can relate to and through experiences which are familiar. Children also have the opportunity to explore and compare other major world religions in order to extend their knowledge and understanding. These units support opportunities within the church calendar, with learning focusing on Christmas, Easter and new beginnings.
The national curriculum for religious education aims to ensure our pupils in;
- Key Stage One
- Learn about the place of religion and belief in their local community
- Learn about key features of Christianity
- Learn about key features of at least one other religion or non- religious worldview
- Key Stage Two
- Learn about the nature of religion and belief
- Learn about Christianity
- Learn about at least two other religions and/or worldviews
- Parents/Carers do have the right to remove their child from R.E lessons. For further information and guidance, please contact the Headteacher.