Religious Education
Philosophers try to understand the world better by asking lots of questions. They particularly ask 'why' questions and seek answers to difficult ideas like emotions and thoughts.
As a Church of England school within the Diocese of Guildford, Religious Education is a core subject and our Christian faith underpins the vision and values for the school community. RE lessons are taught weekly in a lively and imaginative way through a variety of different activities including art, drama, storytelling, visitors, discussion and technology. Children often work in pairs or small groups for these activities. Lessons often include time for discussion, debate and reflection.
Visitors with areas of expertise are often invited to take part in lessons and each year group visits a place of worship e.g. parish church, cathedral or mosque.
Through our R.E. teaching, our daily distinctive act of collective worship, provision and links with the church, we seek to give our pupils a rich variety of experiences from which they are equip with a deep knowledge, respect and understanding of Christianity and other faiths. Our children are naturally curious; we nurture and encourage their enquiring minds through plentiful opportunities to ask questions, reflect and to form their own ideas and opinions. Through the RE curriculum, we also foster an awareness of British values, tolerance for others and knowledge of our own society and the wider world.
Our Religious Education curriculum is enhanced through experiences and enrichment opportunities including:
- fostering close links with our local church community with regular visits and services as well as visits by clergy to the school
- taking part in year group and whole school events - (multicultural days, Harvest Festival, school performances at Christmas and Easter)
- engaging in daily Collective Worship and whole school Pause Days
- participating in moments of quiet reflection using Prayer spaces and reflection areas
- learning through cross curricular opportunities
The units of work outline substantive knowledge, ways of knowing (viewed through the multi-disciplinary ‘lenses’ of theology, sociology and philosophy) and personal knowledge, as well as key questions that might be asked to help shape the learning in different ways, and end of phase expectations. This supports the recommendations of Ofsted’s RE Research Review.
You can read more about the syllabus here: https://www.cofeguildford.org.uk/surrey-agreed-syllabus/