We follow the agreed syllabus ‘Living Difference IV’ alongside the national ‘Understanding Christianity’ resource. Two thirds of our syllabus focuses on Christianity, while the rest focuses on other faiths (Judaism in Early Years and KS1/ Islam in lower KS2 and Hinduism in upper KS2).  There are also themed days on Hinduism (EYFS/KS1) and Buddhism (lower KS2).  We adopt an inquiry-based approach in which the children are encouraged to ask and answer questions. Classes are familiar with the cycle of learning as a tool for inquiry into concepts. We teach core concepts through ‘Big Questions’ for each unit. We also link each unit of learning to concepts as identified in Living Difference IV, so that children can engage in a purposeful and meaningful way, appropriate to their level of understanding.

Through RE pupils have many opportunities to explore our school values and what they mean and to find out about people of different faiths in the wider world.  RE enables children to develop their own ideas, opinions and sense of self through opportunities to think about spiritual moral social and cultural questions.

Discussion and talk for learning, plays an integral part in our R.E lessons. We aim to provide our pupils with an environment where they feel they can explore their personal thoughts without judgement and enable them to be independent thinkers who take ownership of their beliefs. By teaching RE in blocked units children are able to ‘dig much deeper’ into theological concepts and questions. 

The Big Frieze

We use the big Frieze to illustrate seven of the eight core concepts that are explored throughout the Understanding Christianity materials.  To find out more please see the documents at the end of this page.