Religious Education
Intent
At Wickham Market Primary School Religious Education is taught with the aim to engage pupils with an enquiry-based approach where they can develop an understanding and appreciation for the expression of beliefs, cultural practices and influence of principle religions and worldviews in the local, national and wider global community.
We aim to do this by equipping our children with the knowledge and skills to answer any challenging questions, explore different religious beliefs and traditions and to be tolerant of people with different views than themselves.
Implementation
Religious Education is taught in weekly sessions across the school. Throughout the school we follow the Suffolk agreed syllabus for RE; the multi-faith scheme is called 'The Emmanuel Project'. This scheme supports our delivery of the learning themes and key concepts for all major world faiths.
These units engage the children in creative, exciting activities which build on prior knowledge and ensure a deeper understanding. They allow the following religions to be studied: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Humanism. The units also allow discussions to take place about any other religions the children may have come in contact with.
All religions and their communities are treated with respect and sensitivity and we value the links, which are, and can be made between home, school, and a faith community. We intend to teach our RE Curriculum in a way that:
- Is open, objective and enquiry based, it does not seek to urge religious beliefs on young people, nor compromise the integrity of their own religious position by promoting one tradition over another.
- Endeavours to promote a positive attitude toward people, respecting their right to hold different beliefs from their own.
- Promotes the values and attitudes necessary for citizenship in a multi-faith and multi-racial society through developing understanding of, respect for, and dialogue with people of different beliefs, practices, races and cultures.
- Celebrates the similarities and differences of a breadth of religions and cultures; respecting and valuing these for the common good.
We aim to enrich this through:
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Exploring and responding to religious texts
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Handling artefacts.
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Using drama to recreate stories
- Exploring and responding to religious texts
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Handling artefacts.
- Discussion to express feelings, beliefs and ideas.
- Visiting religious places of worship where possible, and when not, making use of videos and the interent to bring them to the children.
- Taking part in whole school events such as Harvest Festival and Multi-Faith days.
- Inviting visitors in from local religious communities.
- Comparing different faiths to see simarlarities and differences.
The Right to Withdraw Pupils from R.E.
Religion and belief have become more visible in public life in recent years, making it important that all pupils should have an opportunity to engage in RE. However, the parent of a pupil at a community, foundation or voluntary school (or pupils themselves if they are aged 18 or over) may request that they be excused from all or part of the religious education (RE) provided.
Parents who wish to withdraw their children from RE should be aware of its aims and what is covered in the RE curriculum and that they are given the opportunity to discuss this if they wish. It should be made clear whether the withdrawal is from the whole RE curriculum or specific parts of it. No reasons need be given.
If pupils are withdrawn from RE, schools have a duty to supervise them, though not to provide additional teaching or to incur extra cost. Pupils will usually remain on school premises where it is feasible and appropriate. A pupil may be required to work in another area of the school, such as the library or break out area.
Whilst parents or carers have a right to withdraw children from RE, they should note that children may also encounter religions and beliefs and wider aspects of faith in other areas of the curriculum from which there is no right of withdrawal.
On occasion, spontaneous questions about religious matters are raised by pupils or issues related to religion arise in other curriculum subjects such as history or citizenship (PSHE). For example, schools promote community cohesion and help pupils to understand ideas about identity and diversity, feelings and emotions within both religious and non-religious contexts.
Where a request for withdrawal is made, the school must comply and excuse the pupil until the request is rescinded. Though not legally required, it is good practice for a head teacher to invite parents to discuss their written request.
(Section 71(3), School Standards and Framework Act 1998).
