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Policy for Religious Education

Ethos:

Recognising its historic foundation Hutton Church of England Primary School will preserve and develop its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with the church at parish and diocesan level

Hutton CE Primary School aims to serve its community by providing an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice. It encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith, and promotes Christian values through the experience it offers to all its pupils.

Rationale:

RE contributes to the whole school ethos through the explicit promotion of attitudes such as respect, care, concern along side knowledge and understanding of religion and God. RE involves opening children’s minds to the exploring of fundamental questions promoting curiosity, fairness and respect for themselves and others. It increases and fosters children’s spirituality and enables children to gain insight into personal beliefs. It develops tolerance and promotes greater knowledge and understanding of the world.

Aims:

  • To learn about and learn from religious and spiritual insights beliefs and practices.
  • To acquire develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and God.
  • To develop an understanding of the influence of beliefs values and traditions on individuals, communities societies and culture.
  • Develop an ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues with reference to the teachings of the principal religions represented in our society.
  • To enhance the pupils’ spiritual moral cultural and social development by:

Developing awareness of the fundamental questions of life, raised by human experiences.

Responding to questions with reference to the teaching and practice of Christianity and God.

Responding to questions with reference to the teaching and practice of other major religions represented in our society.

Reflecting upon the pupils own beliefs values and experiences.

  • To develop a positive attitude towards other people respecting their rights to hold different beliefs from their own and towards living in a society of diverse religions.

Guidelines:

  • The teaching of RE follows the Awareness Mystery and Value curriculum, which is the agreed syllabus for North Somerset.
  • Religious Education knowledge and skills are taught as a part of a wider Humanities curriculum and is integrated into the teaching of other subjects such as English, Art, Design and Technology, Geography and History.
  • RE is taught across all year groups as part of a 2 year rolling programme
  • The teaching of RE in the Foundation stage is taught mainly through the area of Knowledge and Understanding of the World.
  • RE is taught in 10 -12 weekly blocks across two terms – Autumn, Spring and Summer.
  • RE teaching focuses on developing knowledge and understanding of Christianity and making comparisons between Christian beliefs and those of Jewish, Hindu, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism.
  • Children experience Religious education through investigation, real life experiences, discussion, observation and questioning.
  • Children are provided with opportunity to visit places of worship and to meet religious leaders.
  • RE is led by the Humanities curriculum team who provide:
  • Strategic leadership for Humanities.
  • Resource management for teaching RE.
  • Monitoring and evaluation of the quality of learning and progress made in RE.
  • Up to date knowledge of developments and opportunities in Religious Education.
  • Support for colleagues to enable them to develop greater confidence and enthusiasm for the teaching of RE.
  • Liaison with governors and parents keeping them informed of curriculum developments and successes.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

  • The Humanities team will monitor the standards of teaching and learning within RE through:
  • Work sampling, Monitoring planning, Lesson observations, discussion with children, curricular target setting and moderation of pieces of work.
  • Monitoring information will be shared with the leadership team and staff and reported to the Curriculum committee and the Governors with a special interest in the teaching of RE.

Right to withdraw:

Under the terms of the 1966 Education Act, parents may request their child be withdrawn from religious Education lessons. Parents who wish to exercise this right must put their request to the head teacher in writing. The school will ensure that such pupils are adequately supervised and have something purposeful to do. Such children should not be isolated or made to feel different.

Policy reviewed: December 2012

Ratified by Creative Learning and Environment Committee (CLEC) on behalf of the

Governors: Mary Potter11/12/12

(signed: Chair of Creative Learning and Environment Committee)

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R.E. Policy – December 2012