R.E.

Religious Education at Stillness

Intent

Religious education is part of the National Curriculum and we celebrate the diverse religious beliefs within our community. We teach the main world faiths in the context of respecting individual beliefs. An understanding of religious beliefs enables a child to develop a better appreciation of the world and what happens in it. Religions attempt to explain ‘ultimate reality’ and discussion helps children resolve for themselves questions such as ‘where did the world come from? And ‘why are we here?’

Religious education at Stillness celebrates the diversity of religious and human experience. It encourages pupils to grow with the knowledge, skills, sensitivity and understanding to develop as confident and productive members of their local multi-faith community and the world.

Religious education should help pupils to:

– develop a positive attitude towards other people, respecting their right to hold different beliefs from their own and towards living in a society of many religions and beliefs;

– acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and the other principal religions and non-religious world views represented in Great Britain;

– develop an understanding of the influence of beliefs, values and traditions on individuals, communities, societies and cultures;

– develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues, with reference to their own beliefs and the teachings of the principal religions and beliefs represented in Great Britain; enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development by:

• developing awareness of the fundamental questions of life raised by human experiences, and how religious teachings and philosophies can relate to them;
• responding to such questions with reference to the teachings and practices of religions and to their own understanding and experience;
• developing the ability to reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences in the light of their study.

As part of the curriculum children may have the opportunity to visit local places of worship. As a school we will have occasional acts of whole school Christian worship, for example: celebrating the Christmas Story with a local minister and visiting a local church at Easter.

Weekly assemblies will acknowledge major festivals such as Hanukah, Diwali and the Chinese New Year. We have a value of the month which provides the focus for Monday assemblies and Friday assemblies are linked to the UN rights of the child as we are a Rights Respecting School. Assemblies will include a time of reflection or prayer.

RE Overview.