Intent:
The intent of teaching Religious Education at St Erme with Trispen, is to support and challenge pupils to reflect upon, develop and affirm their own beliefs, values and attitudes and those of others through an exploration of shared human experience and to understand the place and significance of religion in the contemporary world.
The Cornwall Agreed Syllabus progressively builds their understanding of significant theological concepts within Christianity with their own self-understanding and understanding of the world as part of their wider religious literacy.
Implementation:
The Implementation of the School’s programme of study for RE is in accordance with ‘The Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education in Cornwall 2020-2025.’
All religions and their communities are treated with respect and sensitivity and we value the links that can be made between home, school and a faith community. We acknowledge that each religion studied can contribute to the education of all our pupils. We promote teaching in Religious Education that stresses open enquiry and first-hand experiences wherever possible for both staff and children. Our Religious Education Curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression. The syllabus is implemented in school through a sensory approach, where children may look at and handle religious artefacts, hear religious music or taste food from a religious tradition. Work in Religious Education builds on the pupils’ own experiences and uses contemporary issues to stimulate discussion. Reflection on learning is a key aspect to each RE lesson and we build in Spirituality through adopting the Self, Others, Beauty and Beyond template which encourages pupils to think deeply.
Impact:
Religious Education provokes challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. It develops pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity, other principal religions, other religious traditions and other worldviews that offer answers to questions such as these. It offers opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development. It enhances pupils’ awareness and understanding of religions and beliefs, teachings, practices and forms of expression, as well as of the influence of religion on individuals, families, communities and cultures.
Religious Education encourages pupils to learn from different religions, beliefs, values and traditions while exploring their own beliefs and questions of meaning. It challenges pupils to reflect on, consider, analyse, interpret and evaluate issues of truth, belief, faith and ethics and to communicate their responses.
The importance of Religious Education is that it encourages pupils to develop their sense of identity and belonging. It enables them to flourish individually within their communities and as citizens in a pluralistic society and global community. Religious Education has an important role in preparing pupils for adult life, employment and lifelong learning. It enables pupils to develop respect for and sensitivity to others, in particular those whose faiths and beliefs are different from their own. It promotes discernment and enables pupils to combat prejudice.
RE in our EYFS classrooms:
RE is incorporated within 'Knowledge and Understanding of the World' and it teaches the children about similarities and differences in relation to places and objects. They learn about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families, communities and traditions. RE is also taught under the stand: 'Personal, Social and Emotional Development' when children are given the opportunity to learn how to sensitively take account of one another’s ideas, beliefs and needs. Our EYFS children talk about how they and others show feelings, talk about their own and others’ behaviour, and its consequences, and know that some behaviour is unacceptable.
