Religious Education

INTENT

Religious Education (RE) is a key component of our school curriculum designed to engage, inspire, and challenge pupils. It equips them with the knowledge and skills to tackle difficult questions, explore a variety of religious beliefs, values, and traditions, and develop a deeper understanding of the diverse religious practices followed in our multicultural society. Our RE program fosters respect, mutual understanding, and tolerance for those of different faiths, as well as for those who do not follow a religious belief. Pupils will learn to appreciate the diversity of values, enabling them to form and justify their own religious or secular perspectives.

IMPLEMENTATION

Our RE curriculum closely follows the aims stated within the Sutton Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) Agreed Syllabus 2021. The Sutton SACRE aims to promote the following attitudes in pupils: commitment,  open mindedness, self-understanding, respect, appreciation, wonder and enquiry. 

AT WPA, RE is taught weekly or can be blocked into special days to give children the opportunity to become immersed in each faith in order to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the religions we study:  Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhisim.

Our RE programme will also enable children to achieve the two principle aims of the SACRE syllabus, namely to: Learn about religion and learn from religion.

The majority of skills acquired and developed in RE will reinforce and emphasise the skills developed in other areas of the curriculum. Although some skills are particularly essential to the development of ‘learning about’ and ‘learning from religion and human experiences’ there are also important links to be made with the ‘key skills’ of literacy, number, ICT, cooperation and thinking.  Our RE curriculum will be enhanced by building links with local religious establishments. 

IMPACT

RE at WPA plays a vital role in preparing children for adult life, future employment, and lifelong learning, while also fostering an understanding of key British values. It helps children develop respect and sensitivity towards others, encourages critical thinking, and empowers them to challenge prejudice. In doing so, RE supports children's well-being, enhances their spiritual, moral, social, and cultural (SMSC) development, and promotes harmony within communities.

Our curriculum offers all children the opportunity to both learn about and learn from religion. Pupils are encouraged to observe, question, reflect, and assess their learning experiences. They are prompted to connect their studies to personal experiences, considering the important messages, morals, and values found in traditional stories. Collective worship and assemblies, aligned with our school values, provide pupils with opportunities to contemplate significant religious and moral questions.