Religious Education at Brown's C of E Primary School

Young children are naturally inquisitive and are fascinated by themselves, their families, other people and the wonders of the world. Religious Education (RE) enables children to investigate and reflect on some of the most fundamental questions asked by people. Through the teaching of RE at Brown's C of E Primary School, we develop the children’s knowledge and understanding of not only Christianity but also of other world religions. We encourage children to reflect on what it means to have a faith and to develop their own spiritual knowledge and understanding. We help the children learn from religions as well as about religions. Time is provided to enable pupils to reflect on Bible and moral stories and absorb their meaning. Prayers, stories, poetry and role play are used as a means of helping children to express and develop their personal beliefs. We aim to support our children in becoming religiously literate citizens whose knowledge and understanding of the modern world ensures they are respectful to all.

At Brown's C of E Primary School, RE supports the underpinning SMSC core of our curriculum by promoting:

Self-awareness: offering opportunities for pupils to reflect on their own views and how they have been formed, as well as the views of others

Curiosity: encouraging pupils’ capacity for critical questioning, such as by keeping big questions in a ‘question box’ or as part of a wall display, and allowing time and space where these questions can be addressed to show that they are important.

Collaboration: utilising lesson techniques which engender group collaboration and communication.

Reflection: providing a space to reflect on pupils’ own values and views, as well as those of others, and to consider the impact of these values

Resilience: promoting a spirit of open enquiry into emotive or complicated questions, in order to learn how to cope with difficult ideas when they arise in the future

Response: exploring ways in which pupils can express their responses to demanding or controversial issues

Values: promoting an ethos of fairness and mutual respect in the classroom and compassion and generosity in pupils through exploring inspiring examples of these qualities in others

Appreciation: encouraging pupils’ ability to respond with wonder and excitement by exploring some of the marvels and mysteries of the natural world, of human ingenuity, and examples of the capacity of humans to love, create, organise and overcome adversity