At Birch Hill Primary School, we believe that Religious Education plays an important role in helping children understand themselves, others and the diverse world in which they live.

Our school community is made up of many nationalities, cultures and faith groups, and we celebrate this diversity through an inclusive and welcoming environment. Through Religious Education, pupils develop respect, empathy and understanding for people whose beliefs, values and experiences may differ from their own.

We aim to provide children with opportunities to explore questions about meaning, belief, identity and belonging while developing knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other major world religions and world views represented in Britain today.

Religious Education encourages pupils to think critically, reflect on their own beliefs and values, challenge stereotypes and appreciate the rich diversity of modern society.

Aims

Our Religious Education curriculum aims to help children:

• Develop a sense of personal identity, self-worth and belonging.
• Develop respectful, open-minded and reflective attitudes.
• Understand and value diversity within local, national and global communities.
• Explore and reflect upon their own beliefs, values and experiences.
• Develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other major world religions and worldviews.
• Understand how beliefs may influence actions, relationships, culture, values and lifestyles.
• Develop skills of enquiry, interpretation, analysis and reflection.

Implementation

At Birch Hill Primary School, Religious Education is taught using the Discovery RE programme alongside the requirements of the current Pan-Berkshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.

Discovery RE follows two key areas of learning:

Learning About Religion

Children develop their knowledge and understanding of religions, beliefs, traditions, practices and ways of life.

Learning From Religion

Children reflect on and respond to questions about identity, belonging, meaning, purpose, values and beliefs, making connections between their learning and their own experiences.

Learning is centred around enquiry-based questions that encourage children to investigate, discuss, reflect and evaluate.

Early Years Foundation Stage

In the Early Years, children develop awareness of Christianity and other faiths through stories, celebrations, special people, places and traditions. Learning is linked to the Early Learning Goals and focuses on children's own experiences and understanding of the world around them.

Key Stage 1

Children learn about Christianity, Judaism and Islam through topics linked to:

• Special stories
• Celebrations and festivals
• Beliefs and symbols
• Places of worship
• Community and belonging

Key Stage 2

In Key Stage 2, pupils continue to study Christianity alongside a range of other world religions and worldviews, including:

• Islam
• Judaism
• Hinduism
• Sikhism
• Buddhism

Children explore key questions relating to:

• Beliefs and teachings
• Worship and prayer
• Sacred texts
• Festivals and traditions
• Moral decision making
• Community and belonging
• Life's big questions

We seek to draw upon the rich experiences and backgrounds of our pupils, families and wider community to make learning meaningful, relevant and engaging.

Enrichment and Community Links

Religious Education is enhanced through:

• Visits to places of worship.
• Visitors from different faith communities.
• Participation in cultural and religious celebrations.
• Opportunities to learn from the experiences and perspectives of others.

These experiences help pupils develop understanding, respect and appreciation for the diverse society in which they live.

Impact

Our Religious Education curriculum helps pupils develop a secure understanding of Christianity and other major world religions and world views, alongside the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to live respectfully in a diverse society. Through enquiry-based learning, children learn to explore important questions about belief, identity, belonging, values and meaning while developing respect for different perspectives.

By the end of Year 6, pupils are able to:

• Demonstrate a secure knowledge and understanding of Christianity and a range of major world religions and world views.
• Explain how beliefs, values and traditions can influence the lives of individuals and communities.
• Use religious vocabulary accurately and confidently.
• Ask thoughtful questions and engage respectfully in discussion and debate about religion, belief and ethical issues.
• Reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences with confidence and sensitivity.
• Recognise similarities and differences between faiths, beliefs and cultures.
• Demonstrate empathy, respect and understanding towards people from different backgrounds and traditions.
• Apply their learning to help them understand the diverse society in which they live.

We measure the impact of our Religious Education curriculum through:

• Ongoing teacher assessment and classroom discussion.
• Pupil responses to enquiry questions and reflection activities.
• Review of pupils' written work and learning outcomes.
• Pupil voice and discussions about learning.
• Assessment of knowledge, understanding and use of subject-specific vocabulary.
• Subject leader monitoring, including lesson visits, work scrutiny and curriculum reviews.

As a result, pupils leave Birch Hill Primary School with the knowledge, understanding and respect needed to thrive in modern Britain. They are open-minded, reflective and able to engage thoughtfully with different beliefs, cultures and world views, preparing them to contribute positively to an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.