Religious Education

Intent

Religious Education is concerned with spiritual growth, with feelings and attitudes such as respect, care and concern, a commitment to a set of values to live by, considering the views of others, respecting those that hold different beliefs and customs, developing a sense of self worth, and a desire to seek after truth. 

At Manor Park, pupils, parents and staff hold a wide variety of beliefs and values, but there are common shared values that are of worth and relevance.  It is these we seek to reflect and celebrate. 

Religious Education at Manor Park provides educational experiences, which will enhance pupils understanding and enable them to acquire and develop knowledge of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism and an awareness of other principal religions reflected in the school community. The teaching of RE skills will enable pupils to know and understand a range of religions and world views, express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and world views. They will be able to discuss similarities and differences between faiths as well as make links to their own beliefs and opinions. Our approach aims to nurture inquisitive minds that respect and tolerate people of all cultures, backgrounds, faith and beliefs. It is for children to gain an understanding of the influence of beliefs, values and traditions on the way people live so that they can have reasoned and informed attitudes to religious and moral issues and show positive attitudes towards others as they live in a religiously diverse society.

Implementation

Our RE curriculum is adapted from the Sutton SACRE and the Yorkshire Scheme of work agreed syllabus's. The curriculum focuses primarily on Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism. These six main religions are taught across EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 with clear progression of knowledge, skills and vocabulary.  The amount of time spent on each religion across the school reflects the school and local community. As pupils progress through school they learn about key festivals and celebrations, religious buildings, books, stories, ideas and opinions in a way that suits their age, understanding and development.

The teaching of skills is progressive and promotes enquiry based, open-ended learning that encourages questioning, making comparisons, explaining, expressing, discussing, exploring religious stories and vocabulary, developing insight, knowledge, empathy and respect. Each year group has an annual Big Question to aid pupils in covering the AT2 - Reflection and Response objectives.

Please see below for the whole school RE Overview and Progression Map.

Pupils have the opportunity to experience a trip or workshop for each of the six main religions at least once during their time at Manor Park. Each term, we also participate in assemblies led by Sutton Schools Work as well as participating in the annual Easter Experience at Sutton Baptist Church. 

Impact

The impact our RE curriculum is evidenced in a number of ways, including:

• Pupil’s voice
• Through connections made during other Transdisciplinary inquiry
• Action that individuals, year groups or the whole school take part in
• Through the respect that pupils show for others of different faiths and beliefs to their own

The teaching of RE skills enable pupils to know and understand about a range of religions and world views, express ideas about the nature, significance and impact of religions and world views. Religious Education fulfils a vital role within the curriculum and is relevant to all pupils, regardless of their religious (or non- religious) background. It introduces them to a world beyond their own experience of culture and belief, enabling them to make links between their own lives and that of those in their community and in the wider world, developing an understanding of other people’s cultures, reasons for being and ways of life. As such, RE is invaluable in a rapidly changing world.