Curriculum Overview
Religious Education – Overview
Every child has a statutory entitlement to Religious Education. Our R.E curriculum follows the Newcastle SACRE Agreed Syllabus 2020.
The SACRE says “the syllabus reflects the diversity of the city through the study of different Christian denominations, other major faiths and secular worldviews. It also includes the exploration of attitudes to religion and ethical choices.” Consequently, the Syllabus is ambitious in its scope and rigour. There is a focus on exploration, discussion and debate through key questions.
The syllabus promotes an approach to teaching and learning that encourages a deepening interest in and enriching experience of the study of religion for children.
The emphasis is upon the fundamental ideas, concepts and questions which human life and experience raise and which religion tries to answer.
The syllabus aims to ensure all pupils:
A. know about and understand a range of religions and worldviews,
B. express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and worldviews,
C. acquire and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and worldviews.
Religious Education in Reception
In the EYFS stage, children will encounter religions and worldviews through special people, books, times, places and objects, and by visiting places of worship. They will listen to and talk about stories. Children will be introduced to subject-specific words and use all their senses to explore beliefs, practices and forms of expression. They will ask questions and reflect on their own feelings and experiences. They will use their imagination and curiosity to develop their appreciation of and wonder at the world in which they live. This will be through planned, purposeful play, and through a mixture of adult-led and child-initiated activities.
Religious Education in Key Stage One
Pupils will develop their knowledge and understanding of religions and worldviews, recognising their local, national and global contexts. They will use basic subject-specific vocabulary. They will raise questions and begin to express their own views in response to the material they learn about and in response to questions about their ideas.
During Key Stage One, children will study aspects of Christianity, Judaism and Sikhism. Children will also have the opportunity to visit a church and a synagogue as part of their religious studies.
Religious Education in Key Stage Two
Pupils will extend their knowledge and understanding of religions and worldviews, recognising their local, national and global contexts. They will be encouraged to be curious and to ask increasingly challenging questions about religion, belief, values and human life.
Pupils will learn to express their own ideas in response to the material they engage with, identifying relevant information, selecting examples and giving reasons to support their ideas and views.
During Key stage Two, children will study aspects of Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Buddhism and Humanism. Children will also have the opportunity to visit a gurdwara, mandir, Buddhist temple and a mosque.