Religious Education
Curriculum Overview
Religious Education at Sunshine Academy
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 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 also 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 some of 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:
- Provokes challenging questions about the meaning and purpose of life, beliefs, the self, issues of right and wrong, and what it means to be human. It develops pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity, other principal religions, and religious traditions that examine these questions, fostering personal reflection and spiritual development.
- Encourages pupils to explore their own beliefs (whether they are religious or non-religious), in the light of what they learn. This also builds resilience to anti-democratic or extremist narratives.
- Enables pupils to build their sense of identity and belonging, which helps them flourish within their communities and as citizens in a diverse society.
- Teaches pupils to develop respect for others, including people with different faiths and beliefs, and helps to challenge prejudice.
- Prompts pupils to consider their responsibilities to themselves and to others, and to explore how they might contribute to their communities and to wider society. It encourages empathy, generosity and compassion.
As such, it is relevant to every pupil and every citizen of Walsall.
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.
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In KS1 children engage with RE on a weekly basis through lesson of approximately 1 hour following the Walsall SACRE syllabus and also via specific celebrations acknowledged by our children which we may also discuss and learn about as they arise throughout the year. The specific curriculum aims for religious education in Walsall are 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.
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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.
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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.
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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 lessons and assemblies 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.
If you want to withdraw your child from RE lessons and assemblies we would encourage you to contact the Headteacher to discuss the matter and to negotiate alternative arrangements.
Weblinks
KS1 Religious Education - England - BBC Bitesize