R.E. is taught through formal lessons from Reception to Year 6. As a school, we follow the Kapow Religious Education scheme of work and the Derbyshire Agreed Syllabus.
Intent
Our Religion and worldviews curriculum aims to develop deep thinkers who are open-minded about religion and worldviews. Our RE curriculum is relevant to pupils, reflecting and preparing them for life in modern Britain. Using the Kapow RE scheme, children will secure a deep understanding of concepts in order to be able to make connections, ask and respond to challenging questions, learn to respect and appreciate worldviews that are different to their own and consider their personal preconceptions, responses and views. Children will build their conceptual knowledge through studying religions and worldviews locally, nationally and globally in our progressive curriculum, enabling them to make links and connections between worldviews. By revisiting key ‘big questions’ and building on prior knowledge, pupils will learn about how religion and worldviews are lived experiences across the world, consider the impact of worldviews on society and have opportunities to consider their personal worldviews.
Implementation
The Kapow Primary Religion and worldviews scheme follows the spiral curriculum model, where units and lessons are carefully sequenced so that previous conceptual knowledge is returned to and built upon. Children progress by developing and deepening their knowledge and understanding of substantive and disciplinary concepts by experiencing them in a range of contexts.
In EYFS, children begin to talk about the beliefs of their immediate family and community, recognising that people have different beliefs and celebrate special times in different ways. They listen to religious and modern day stories and compare and contrast characters, including figures from the past. Children develop their awareness of religion and worldviews in Key stage 1, focusing on conceptual knowledge through the study of a limited range of religions and worldviews represented in the UK, including Christianity. This will support children in building knowledge they can refer to throughout their learning in Key stage 2 while encountering a greater range of religions and worldviews and considering further the diverse nature of religious and non-religious lived experience.
Each unit includes overarching ‘big questions’ which will be revisited throughout key stage 1, lower key stage 2 and upper key Stage 2, allowing children to apply the breadth and depth of their learning across various concepts. These ‘big questions’ are:
- Why are we here?
- Why do worldviews change?
- What is religion?
- How can worldviews be expressed?
- How do worldviews affect our daily lives?
- How can we live together in harmony if we have different worldviews?
A more specific, focused enquiry question frames the learning across each unit. Both the ‘big questions’ and the focused enquiry question will allow children to explore the content they are studying, make comparisons and links within and across religions and worldviews, and explore their personal views.
Lessons are designed to be varied, engaging and hands-on, allowing children to learn and record their thoughts, answers and ideas in various ways. In each lesson, children will participate in activities involving disciplinary and substantive concepts, developing their knowledge and understanding of diverse religions and worldviews.
Impact
After taking part in our RE lessons, pupils will be equipped with a range of disciplinary skills and knowledge to enable them to succeed in their secondary education. They will be prepared for life in modern Britain, being able to interact with others from different religious and non-religious viewpoints in a respectful, knowledgeable and open-minded way. They will be curious learners who ask questions and make connections, confident to explore their personal worldview and have the skills to appreciate, evaluate and respond to religious, philosophical and ethical questions.
Pupils will:
- Meet the relevant Early learning goals at the end of EYFS (Reception) and the End of Key stage 1 and Key stage 2 requirements from the Curriculum framework for Religious Education for England.
- Know and understand religious concepts relating to beliefs, practices, community and belonging, and wisdom and guidance.
- Develop an understanding of the influence of organised and personal worldviews on individuals, communities, countries and globally.
- Understand some of the ways religions and worldviews are studied (disciplinary knowledge).
- Build secure vocabulary which allows them to talk confidently and fluently about their learning.
- Answer questions about worldviews through an enquiry-based approach including investigating, interpreting, evaluating, applying and expressing.
- Talk about the similarities and differences between their own and others’ beliefs with respect and open mindedness.
- Understand the lived experiences of religious and non-religious worldviews to be diverse within and between people and communities.
