RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
At Gascoigne our Religious Education curriculum is based on ‘Learning for Life’ the Barking and Dagenham Agreed Syllabus. This is inline with the Education Act 1996 schedule 31. The L.B.B.D. Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education is the legal document for this school’s R.E. provision and is implemented through the school’s R.E. Schemes of Work (Foundation Stage, KS1 and KS2).
Religion has its origin in the spiritual aspects of people’s lives. It is derived from people’s experience and search for meaning. Religious Education should be concerned with developing children’s awareness of themselves and others, allowing the children to explore their own emotions and opinions and respect those of others.
Children need to acquire knowledge and understanding of religious practices. R.E. must provide the children with the skills and opportunities to make judgements about spiritual and moral issues, as well as informed decisions regarding their own beliefs. Positive attitudes towards others are to be promoted.
At Gascoigne all participating pupils study Christianity but each year group offers the opportunity to explore the beliefs of another religion. It is our aim to ensure pupils attending our school are aware of the beliefs of their peers, also providing critical thinking skills to evaluate their own beliefs.
Purposes
1. To enable pupils to acquire knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other principal religions represented in Great Britain, leading them to develop an awareness of how religious teachings relate to fundamental life questions.
2. To enable pupils to develop a positive and sensitive attitude towards others, respecting their right to hold different beliefs from their own.
3. To encourage children to explore their own ideas, beliefs and values, thus
developing an awareness of right and wrong and contributing to their moral,
social and spiritual development.
4. To develop in children an understanding of the influence of beliefs, values and traditions in individuals, communities, societies and cultures.
5. To understand and respect the similarities and differences in their own beliefs and those of others.
Guidelines
1. Pupils should have the opportunity to learn about and from religious beliefs
and practices through a variety of media: i.e. Artefacts, photographs, stories,
information texts, visits, listening to others and sharing their own experiences.
2. Teaching should show the importance of religion in people’s lives and should reflect the distinctiveness of each religion being studied.
3. Pupils should explore their feelings, experiences and responses using a variety of media e.g. writing, painting and drawing, speech, drama and music.
4. Pupils should study strands which are common to most religions i.e. worship, prayers, celebrations, rites of passage, holy books, symbolism and key figures.
5. Pupils should be encouraged to examine similarities and differences between different religions as their knowledge deepens and reflect upon how belief systems are important to many individuals the world over.
Roles and Responsibilities
Staff:
· A range of teaching styles should be used, and cross curricular
links should be developed wherever possible.
· In Religious Education, as in all other subjects, teaching staff will be
given every support for their professional development in this subject.
Outside Agencies:
· The involvement of outside agencies (e.g. priests, ministers, Rabbis,
religious leaders etc…) is a valuable addition to the expertise of the
school’s teaching staff.
· Where visitors are used, the teacher will ensure that the participant(s)
is properly briefed, and will carefully integrate their contribution into
the religious education programme through monitoring and evaluation.
Parents and Carers:
· The right of the parent to withdraw their children from acts of worship is a legal entitlement.
· Parents should write a letter or make an appointment to discuss the
matter with the Headteacher.
· The school is always willing to discuss any concerns of parents
regarding RE.
Resources:
We have a good range of resources to support the teaching of R.E. across the school. This includes collections of artefacts for each of the major world religions, collections of teacher and pupils’ books on these religions, posters and videos. The resources are available to each year group.
Additional information
1. Leticia Acquah-Aikins and Anjum Iqbal are the R.E. coordinators.
2. Schemes of Work, advice and further information can be acquired from the
Coordinator and year group leaders.
Revised November 2016
R.E. Curriculum statement
Religious education has an extremely important role in our schools and beyond. We live in an exciting time where change and diversity surrounds us. Good quality religious education supports our young people in understanding their own, and others, beliefs, understandings and values. This depth of understanding is important for personal development and crucial for the development of cohesive, caring communities.
Helen Jenner
Director of Children’s Services
(Taken from the Agreed Syllabus forward)
Learning for Life ‘The LBBD Agreed Syllabus for Barking & Dagenham.’
The R.E. curriculum at Gascoigne Primary School is based on the LBBD Agreed Syllabus for R.E.
At Gascoigne Primary School we are proud of our diverse community of children. R.E. lessons encourage aim to foster discussion and reflection based on religious & personal understanding of issues which affect our community and the wider world.
It is the right of any Parent or Guardian to withdraw their child/children from acts of collective worship. Please contact the head teacher if this is the case.