Religious Education
At Harry Gosling, we believe that religious education provides the opportunity for children to celebrate and explore their own and others’ diverse beliefs and values. We aim to equip the children with the disciplinary and substantive knowledge of different religions so that they are able to develop the skills and understanding needed to weigh up the value of wisdom from different sources, to develop and express their insights in response, and to agree or disagree respectfully. We consider religions and worldviews in local, national and global contexts, to discover, explore and consider different answers to these questions. We hope that through this teaching the children become adults that promote respect and tolerance, challenge stereotypes and champion democratic values and human rights.
We use the SACRE locally agreed syllabus as the basis for planning Religious Education, which caters for pupils from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. During weekly lessons, we aim to support and develop children’s spiritual development through learning about and celebrating different faiths. Pupils are also given a chance to reflect on what they have learnt and how other religious beliefs may be similar or different to their own. Our RE curriculum is designed to:
- Explore Diverse Religions and Worldviews: Pupils engage with a wide range of religious beliefs and practices, fostering an appreciation for the rich tapestry of cultures and traditions in our community and beyond.
- Promote Critical Thinking and Inquiry: Through interactive lessons and discussions, pupils develop the ability to think critically about religious and ethical issues, encouraging personal reflection and informed decision-making.
- Encourage Respect and Empathy: By learning about different faiths and worldviews, our pupils cultivate respect and empathy, preparing them to be thoughtful and compassionate members of society.
- Support Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural Development: Our RE programme contributes to the overall development of pupils, aligning with the broader educational goals of personal growth and social responsibility.
We teach RE systematically, so children learn about each of the chosen religions – Christianity, Hinduism, Humanism, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism– at multiple points in their primary career. The first time we establish their initial knowledge, then build on what they’ve learnt when we revisit it later. Promoting high-quality discussion is central to our pedagogy; teachers use sentence stems, discussion guidelines, thoughtful questioning and games to promote peer discussion. We use artefacts to support children’s learning. In addition, we arrange visits to different places of worship and external visitors to foster deeper learning opportunities and develop children’s cultural capital. Teaching is inclusive to the needs of all pupils, by encouraging them to think critically and deeply and using a range of resources, questioning and support.
In addition, the school holds collective worship through weekly assemblies. They allow discussion for important social and educational needs which help them develop their moral and spiritual aspects of school life. This time is also used to celebrate religious diversity through learning about important events in the different religious calendars. Children are also given the opportunity to reflect quietly and celebrate achievement and success.
Knowledge and Skills Progressions:
Please click on the links below to see the specific skills and knowledge that are covered in each year group.