Religious Education
The principle aim of RE is to engage pupils in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religions and worldviews address, so that they can develop the understanding and skills needed to appreciate and appraise varied responses to these questions, as well as develop responses of their own. (Derbyshire Agreed Syllabus 2020)
In R.E. we aim to:
- Teach children to grow into positive, responsible people, who can work and co-operate with others.
- Whilst doing this we aim to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes to learning in order that they achieve their full potential.
- We value the way in which all children are unique, and our curriculum promotes respect for the views of each individual child, as well for people of other cultures.
- We aim to help children to understand British cultural heritage.
- We value the spiritual and development of each person.
- We also aim to teach respect for our world, and how we should care for it for future generations.
In line with the Agreed Syllabus for Derbyshire, there are 3 elements to RE which we use :-
- Believing- Religious beliefs, teachings, sources, questions about meaning, purpose and truth.
- Expressing- Religious and spiritual forms of expression, questions about identity and diversity.
- Living- Religious practices and ways of living questions about values and commitments.
We also use the RE Today resource 'Understanding Christianity' to enrich our curriculum further.
RE is taught in units of approximately half a term. RE is taught as both a discrete subject, with links made in other areas if appropriate, and also sometimes as a block of work, whichever is most relevant to the particular unit.
Time allocation
In line with Derbyshire requirements R.E. is allocated a minimum of 5% of curriculum time.
| EYFS | 36 hours of RE (50 mins per week or short sessions through continuous provision). Also as a block of work, for example certain celebrations. |
| KS1 | 36 hours per year (1 hour per week , or less plus RE days) |
| KS2 | 45 hours per week (1 hour per week or a series of RE days ) |
RE Statement of Entitlement for Church Schools
RE and the right to withdraw - (School Standards and Framework Act 1998 S71(3)) Parents may withdraw their child from RE lessons on the grounds that they wish to provide their own religious education. The school has a duty to supervise them, though not to provide additional teaching or to incur extra cost. Where the pupil has been withdrawn, the law provides for alternative arrangements to be made for RE of the kind the parents want the pupil to receive. (Derbyshire Agreed Syllabus 2020)