Mattersey Primary School
Intent
At Mattersey Primary School, we believe Religious Education is an important part of our curriculum. As a subject, the themes and ideas are often explored through our PSHE and English curriculum, as well as RE being a subject taught in its own right. Our intent is for our teachers to deliver the National Curriculum, promoting curiosity and enthusiasm so that pupils engage with understanding faith and beliefs. We also aim to give the pupils confidence to understand the importance of equality and diversity in our world and to develop the ability to be independently respectful of other people, their views and way of life. We intend to give our pupils the opportunity to explore the similarities and differences when considering a range of religions, beliefs and inspirational people. Our pupils will have the opportunity to investigate a range of faiths and beliefs. We want our pupils to understand and respect that not everyone has the same beliefs but that we can all live in harmony together. Our local area serves mainly a population of people who follow Christian beliefs, so it is our intention to give pupils the experience of other celebration and festivals. Our pupils will be curious and enthusiastic to find new things out and have the opportunity to speak to visitors (experts)to enrich their experiences.
Implementation
To support our mixed age classes at Mattersey, the RE curriculum is planned out on a 2/3 year rolling programme for EYFS and Key Stage 1 and on a 4 year rolling programme for Key Stage 2.
Our teaching of Religious Education follows the guidance given in the latest agreed syllabus for Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County Councils.
The Agreed Syllabus for RE in Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire
2021-2026
Using this Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education, we will enable our pupils to discover more about religion as well as other world views as we assist them to apply their learning to a range of topics. Our pupils are encouraged to express ideas and insights into key questions which face all human beings as we travel through life. They will take part in lessons, and could also receive visitors to school sharing a range of religious viewpoints and undertake their own visits to varied places of worship.
Through these experiences they will gain insights and knowledge to help equip them as responsible citizens, ready to contribute positively to our society and the wider world.
The three-fold aims of RE will ensure that our pupils:
- Know and understand a range of religions and world views, which will allow them to recognise the diversity which exists in our city and wider society.
- Can express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and the impact of religions and world views, as they develop their own personal views on a range of issues.
- Develop and use skills which will assist them to engage seriously with religions and world views.
By following the Agreed Syllabus, we will also contribute to a whole range of school priorities. The study of religious and world views will also promote spiritual, cultural, social and moral development, and will support pupils’ understanding of British Values such as acceptance and respect for others who hold different world views.
If you would like to know more about the Agreed Syllabus, a copy can be made available for you to read in school.
Our standards for Religious Education have been mapped out on our progression document, ensuring children year on year develop their knowledge and skills. Religious Education has been blocked into half-terms where a particular key unit is taught (see progression maps and long term plans).
Across school, lessons have a ‘Big Question’ approach, which supports children’s understanding of the key learning within each lesson and helps pupils to develop a sense of questioning. Furthermore, the Success criteria, presented to children as Green statements help to ensure that they are very clear about how they can show their achievements in this subject and the progression in knowledge. Teachers then use these to assess pupil learning and pupils show independence by self-assessing. Within our lessons, a key component is to review previous learning, allowing children to understand their learning journey and giving them the confidence to be able to articulate their understanding and link learning together. Learning is reviewed in a range of ways: quizzes, games and mini assessments. Teachers also review through morning starter activities. This keeps learning refreshed and supports their long-term retention. Vocabulary is an integral part of our Religious Education curriculum; we believe it is crucial we give our children the language to be able to talk and write confidently and the key vocabulary has been included within our progression documents.
At Mattersey we take part in daily collective worship in assembly time. This provides an opportunity to reflect on what is important in life, what it means to be human and the ideas of right and wrong. Our assembly themes are planned out each half term and explore a range of faiths and beliefs. Rev. Becky and Tony Harris also join us regularly from All Saint's Church to support our Christian themes. All of our assembly themes are linked to our What Matters at Mattersey values.
Impact
By the end of Year 6, our pupils will:
- Know and understand a range of religions and world views.
- Know how to recognise and have respect for the diversity which exists in our society and wider society.
- Know how to express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and the impact of religions and world views
- Be able to develop their own personal views, with kindness and respect, on a range of issues.
- Be able to develop and use skills which will assist them to engage seriously with religions and world views.
- Be able to ask questions, consider and discuss ideas of fairness, human rights and the environment.
- Know the importance of and remember examples of prejudice.
- Know how to apply the ideas of tolerance and respect to problems in our community and wider.
