Implementation of RE

At Esh Winning Primary School, we offer a curriculum set through the Durham Agreed Syllabus 2020 which is broad and balanced, and which builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills of all children. All of our learning is taught using scaffolding and modelling so that all children feel secure and cement the foundations of their learning step by step.

Pupils will study Christianity in both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, as well as Buddhism in Key Stage 1 and Hinduism and Judaism in Key Stage 2, with a small special study of Islam. The curriculum also includes the study of other religions and worldviews taught through thematic units and units on religious diversity.  R.E. in EYFS is taught as part of whole class topics or themes. All year groups focus on a different question around Christmas and Easter to allow for progress. This is a whole school approach to understanding the Christian festival of Christmas and Easter.

R.E. is generally delivered in a weekly timetabled lesson, however, depending on the topic or the type of teaching and learning activity, R.E. will sometimes be taught over an afternoon or entire day, particularly if the children are visiting a place of religious significance.

The R.E. curriculum is planned carefully to ensure each child’s progression throughout their time at school.  Children’s knowledge and understanding of concepts in R.E. will become deeper, more complex and more comprehensive.  They will develop their critical thinking through the skills of analysis and evaluation in relation to questions raised by their learning in R.E.. Personal reflection is developed and deepened through opportunities for children to reflect on their own experiences, feelings, beliefs, values and ideas.

The R.E. curriculum is enriched through visits to local places of religious significance.  Churches in the village of Esh Winning are regularly visited by our children, and we encourage visitors from faith leaders to our school.  In year 3, children learn about Christian churches from different denominations and are able to visit (in person or virtually) to see them first hand.  Durham Cathedral is an important place of religious significance and will be visited by both year 2 and year 4 children to enhance their study of both the history of the cathedral as well as the modern-day worship there.  Children enjoy communication from local temples, mosques and synagogues to gain further understanding of the beliefs and practices in Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Islam.

Children will be introduced to subject specific vocabulary.  The vocabulary taught will become wider and more abstract.  It is used during teaching and it is expected to be used accurately in the children’s writing as well as oral discussions.

Cultural Capital in Religious Education

Cultural Capital is the accumulation of knowledge, behaviours, skills and experiences that gives us the confidence to be able to talk, communicate, progress and take a full part in our community and wider world.  At Esh Winning Primary school, we promote equality through our commitment to developing cultural capital for all our children.

In R.E., children will learn about diverse religious and non-religious worldviews.  The R.E. curriculum is designed to help children deal with controversial issues, manage strongly held differences of belief and challenge stereotypes and prejudice.  Children will develop mutual respect and tolerance of others’ faiths and beliefs.  In order to achieve this, children will experience:

• Meeting and talking to people who belong to a variety of religious and non-religious groups
• Visits to places of religious significance
• Have access to a wide range of religious artefacts
• Experience religious ceremonies through drama and video