Wallands Community Primary and Nursery School

Religious Education

At Wallands we take pride in our commitment to Equality and Diversity so RE (religious education) is taught throughout the school in such a way as to not only reflect the aims, values and philosophy of our school but also to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our children. We believe that all learners should develop mutual respect and understanding of the many different beliefs and cultures that are present in Lewes, East Sussex, the United Kingdom and the world.

At Wallands, we follow an enquiry based approach to Religious Education based on a published scheme ‘Discovery RE’. This is in accordance with the East Sussex Agreed RE syllabus.

I love RE because it helps us understand different people and learn about them. It would be boring if everyone was the same! Isla Year 2

 The aim of our Religious Education is to help children acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of the 6 major religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. Christianity is taught alongside one other principle religion in each year group with six enquiries throughout every year group. We want our children to understand the core beliefs of these religions and the concepts that underpin them.

The RE curriculum is made up of units of learning based on the 6 major religions. Each unit of study in RE is built around a learning question, which guides the teaching sequence.  

Wallands RE curriculum

Connecting themes are woven through the scheme across the school, so children revisit themes and apply their learning in new contexts.

Beliefs, teachings and sources

 
  • Talking about concepts and beliefs (religious and non-religious).
  •  Finding out about key ideas and beliefs making comparisons between religions.
  •  Exploring the Bible and other sacred writings from the other principal religions and how these influence the lives of believers.
  •  Learning about the lives and teachings or the significance of key figures in Christianity and other principal religions.

Practices and ways of life
  • Finding out about the main features, pattern and meaning of key acts of worship or meditation within Christianity and other principal religions.
  • Finding out about the preparations, activities and feelings involved in making a pilgrimage.
  • Finding out about the main features of religious festivals within Christianity and other principle religions. Include stories underlying them, reasons why they are celebrated, the ways they are celebrated and their significance for believers.

Forms of expressing meaning
  • Finding out about the meaning and purpose of the internal and external features of a place of worship in Christianity and other principal religions.
  • Investigating a ceremony in Christianity and other principal religions which celebrates a landmark in life; find out about the rituals which take place and why. 
  • Exploring the different uses of written and spoken language used in religion. 
  • Exploring how meaning can be communicated in verbal and non- verbal ways such as art, music, drama, film, consider the importance of symbolism.

Identity, diversity, belonging
  • Reflecting on the meaning of ‘dialogue’ and discuss the importance of dialogue between people of different faith or beliefs, as well as between individuals or groups within the same faith/belief. 
  • Exploring things which are important to faith communities, noting similarities and differences.

Meaning, purpose and truth
  • Consider a range of creation stories including the Christian/Jewish account. 
  • Consider stewardship and creation.
  • Identify profound questions about life and the world.
  • Exploring some religious responses to them.

Values and commitments
  • Exploring things which they value, explaining why they are important to them and listen to others’ experiences.
  • Investigating some of the ways in which beliefs and values underpin our society.
  • Investigating ways in which Christianity and other principal religions put into practice particular rules for living, reflecting on what commitment means for individuals and communities. 
  • Study the lives of people from Christianity and other principal religions that exemplify a religious way of life and reflect on how their beliefs affect(ed) their actions.