INTENT

Religious Education is recognised as having a significant role for the development of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. 
It promotes respect and open-mindedness towards others with different faiths and beliefs encouraging pupils to develop their sense of identity and belonging through self-awareness and reflection. Links can be made to the teaching of British Values where appropriate.
The principle aim of lessons is to engage pupils in an enquiry approach where they can develop an understanding and appreciation for the expression of beliefs, cultural practices and influence of principle religions and worldviews in the local, national and wider global community. 

3 key aims reflected in the Coventry and Warwickshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education:

Know about and understand a range of religions and worldviews, so that they can: 

•  describe, explain, analyse beliefs & practices, recognising the diversity which exists
•  identify, investigate and respond to questions posed, and responses offered by religious sources of wisdom 
•  appreciate and appraise the nature, significance and impact of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning.

Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and worldviews, so that they can:

•  explain 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, including ethical issues 
• appreciate and appraise varied dimensions of religion.  

Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and worldviews, 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 individuals and communities to live together respectfully for the wellbeing of a community articulate beliefs, values and commitments clearly in order to explain why they may be important in their own and other people’s lives.

Through the teaching of RE, teachers should consider how their teaching contributes towards the principal aim of RE in the local area, and how they help pupils to achieve the threefold aim.
 

IMPLEMENTATION

Legal requirement:

To annually deliver 45 hours of RE in each year group. 
Collective worship hours do not contribute towards the 45 hours.
To follow a locally Agreed Syllabus: The Coventry and Warwickshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education 2017-2022.

Once a term, one week is dedicated to the study of Religious Education using Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. RE lessons are timetabled for all day Thursday and Friday. 

A key questions style is adopted covering Believing, Expressing & Living sections form the Agreed Syllabus. Philosophy 4 Children strategies, where appropriate can be used, encouraging the engagement of all pupils in critical thinking. In planning lessons teachers take in to account previous learning and links to other subject areas, British Values and openings to contribute to pupils’ opportunities beyond their lived experiences.

One piece of extended writing during each of the 3 weeks is completed.
 

IMPACT

This is the first year that RE has been delivered in a weekly format. The feedback from pupils and staff has been overwhelmingly positive. Pupils have embraced opportunities to explore the lives of others while reflecting on their own beliefs and moral awareness.