Religious Education
'RE is like the Tardis. Despite the small space it occupies in the curriculum, it is huge, encompassing nothing less than humanity's most searching questions, its deepest hopes, the history of the world's beliefs and their diverse manifestation in the modern world' (NATRE)
RE must be provided for all children in state funded school in England. This is a legal requirement and is also a necessary part of a 'broad and balanced curriculum'
RE is locally determined not nationally. Planning is based on the Kent Agreed Syllabus. The RE curriculum drawn up by SACRE 'shall reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian, while taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain.' (Education Act 1996, Section 365)
Religious Education (RE) is not part of the National Curriculum but must be taught in schools by law. At Lawn Primary School, RE is an integral part of the curriculum in developing an understanding of the religions and beliefs which form part of contemporary society. Our Religious Education curriculum 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 children's knowledge and understanding of Christianity, of other principal religions, other religious traditions and world views that offer answers to questions such as these. RE also contributes to our children's personal development and wellbeing, and to community cohesion by promoting mutual respect and tolerance in a diverse society.
RE makes important contributions to other parts of the curriculum such as PSHE, History, education for sustainable development and others. It offers opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development, deepening the understanding of the significance of religion in the lives of others - individually, communally and cross-culturally. Through RE, we aim to enable children to understand the nature of religions and beliefs which have influenced the lives of millions of people and heavily influenced the development of different human cultures. We also aim to enable children to learn more about themselves and their place in the world from their increasingly academic and creative exploration of religions and beliefs. RE is taught through an enquiry-based approach and provides opportunities for all children to explore questions, experiences and concepts related to identity and what it means to be human, whilst at the same time developing a good knowledge and understanding of the principal faiths in Britain. The syllabus promotes an inclusive and educational approach to RE, which is of increasing importance to help people understand modern society and critical issues in the world, as well as promoting understanding and respect. It enables teachers to develop key skills, attitudes and dispositions in their children, such as critical thinking, empathy and conceptual creativity, which will equip them better to be able to grapple with the questions that life throws at us.
Delivery of RE is usually taught as a weekly lesson, however it can also be through larger blocks of time when it is felt this would be more effective. There is also some cross-curricular coverage of RE including teaching through other subjects, whole school events, assemblies, and collective worship.
