At Oldfield Park Infant School, we believe that the purpose of religious education (RE) is to foster in pupils a reflective approach to life in order to develop their own spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Schools are required to teach RE as part of a broad and balanced curriculum and children need to understand the part religion plays in life. 

Intent

Through our Religious Education curriculum, we aim to engage pupils in enquiring into and exploring questions arising from the study of Religion and the key concepts that we cover. It is hoped that this approach will promote their personal, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, encouraging learners to have a positive attitude about their own beliefs, whilst also valuing the views and opinions of others who might have different beliefs to their own. At Oldfield Park Infant School, we provide pupils with knowledge and understanding of Christianity, and other religious traditions and beliefs represented in Great Britain and the wider world.

Implementation

Religious Education must form part of a broad and balanced curriculum for all registered pupils with the exception of those withdrawn at the parent’s request.

At Oldfield Park Infant School, we choose to follow the Discovery RE scheme of work because it gives the children the opportunity to learn about a number of different religions in depth and gives them the chance to enquire and deepen their respect for people that are different and whose beliefs differ. By following the Discovery RE scheme of work, we are embracing the vision of Awareness, Mystery and Value which is the agreed syllabus set by The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) for BANES. At Oldfield Park Infant School, RE lessons are taught weekly in EYFS, but in KS1 are more often taught in a ‘block’ over the period of a term. Where appropriate, links are made with the RE themes and other subject areas. Lessons are planned and delivered in a variety of ways ensuring that all children can access and participate in lessons. Children are actively encouraged to discuss their ideas and views during lessons, and they are supported in extending their understanding about the concepts covered.

Impact

The children at Oldfield Park Infant School enjoy learning about other religions and why people choose, or choose not to follow a religion. Through their RE learning, the children are able to make links between their own lives and those of others in their community and in the wider world, developing an understanding of other people’s cultures and ways of live.

Pupil’s progress in RE is assessed throughout each unit and these combined assessments contribute to an overall view of how well children are achieving in RE. In addition to this, the subject leader will carry out work sampling in order to monitor progress and outcomes across the year group. Through this approach, it is hoped that RE lessons will provide pupils at Oldfield Park Infant School with the ability to reflect on, consider, analyse, interpret and evaluate issues of truth, belief, faith and ethics as well as being able to communicate their responses in a way that is appropriate for the individual.

Curriculum-Overview-for-Religious-Education.pdf

Religious-Education-Policy-2022.pdf