Religious Education

As a Voluntary Controlled School we follow the Local Authority Agreed RE Syllabus just like local Community schools.  We are required by law to teach a minimum of 36 hours a year (approximately 60 minutes per week) of RE.   During 2017-18 staff received training from the Diocese on "Understanding Christianity" and the ERYC RE adviser.

The school is inspected by law under Section 48 of the Education Act, our next SIAMS inspection is due in the 2019-20 school year.  Information on the inspection can be found by clicking here.   Our previous SIAMS inspection rated the school as Good, the inspection report can be found here.

Each class has weekly RE lessons. We also participate in RE Action days and visit places of worship.

All our classes have a reflection area in which pupils can reflect on our Christian values.

Christianity is the main religion studied in our school, however we also study Islam in EYFS and Judaism in KS1.  We compare and contrast these other world faiths with Christianity.

Pupil Voice 

How do you feel about RE?

I love it.

We learn about God and Jesus.

I like to watch Power Points but nothing else.

I get to do drawing and I love drawing.

I like to learn about Buddhism.

I like Harvest.

I like learning about different festivals and churches.

Have you done a piece of work in RE that you’re really proud of?

I like the ‘WOW said…..’ book where we can put in it things we like.

What do you talk about in RE and do you get chance to think about life’s big questions?

We can ask questions whenever we want.

Have you ever made any visits in RE or has any visitors?

Last week we went to church.

No, we haven’t had visitors.

Which bits of RE have been the best and why?

Drawing because it’s one of my favourite things.

Easter and Christmas.

When we did the sheet with 4 boxes about 4 different parts of Jesus’ life. I like writing and drawing.

Mrs Smith puts on clips about Jesus and we write about it.

How to help at home

Here are some suggestions for ways you can help your child.

Take your child to a place of worship

Take your child to a place of worship. Many places have open days, and your place of worship will be open for so many hours each week, in addition to the scheduled services.

Celebrate religious holidays

You may have no religious faith yourself, but national holidays such as Christmas and Easter, for example, are opportunities for your child to explore the religious significance of these events.

Cook!

Familiarise your child with the significance of certain foods by having him or her help you prepare some traditional food from different religions.

Listen to music

Do you have a Spotify account or Alexa? Download some music from different religions to listen to while at home or in the car. 

Puzzles

You can download and print dozens of free RE crosswords and word searches for your child. He or she will have fun playing, while simultaneously learning key religious vocabulary.

Memory games

Create some RE flashcards of faith believers and their places of worship (using Google images), and place them face down on a table. Your child will turn over two cards. If the believer and place of worship match, your child will turn over two more cards. The point of the game is to match all of the cards from memory.

NB This is key knowledge that all children need to acquire to meet the end of KS1 learning objectives

Read Faith stories/stories from other world religions

There are lots of Faith story books. This can be a fun and easy way to explore the faith stories of other world religions. 

• Make use of holidays!

As well as having fun in the sunshine, visit a local place of worship, especially if you are abroad. Compare the places of worship with our All Saints Pocklington.

RE Attainment Targets 

There are two aspects to the teaching of RE.

1. Learning about Religions (AT1)

          This includes the ability to

• identify, name, describe and give accounts in order to build a coherent picture of each religion;
• explain the meaning of religious language, stories and symbolism;
• explain similarities and differences between and within, the religions.

2. Learning from Religions (AT2)

          This includes the ability to:

• give an informed and considered response to religious and moral issues;

• reflect on what might be learnt from religions in the light of one’s beliefs and experience;
• identify and respond to questions of meaning with religions

Assessment of RE

In Foundation Stage, evidence of the children’s understanding is recorded in the pupils individual learning journeys, and in an EYFS big RE book.  The teacher uses the information to make judgements as to whether the child is making expected progress. Children are expected to achieve the Early Learning Goal for –

• Making Relationships
• Self-confidence and Self-awareness
• Managing Feelings and Behaviour
• People and Communities

In Year 1 pupils understanding is assessed using discussion, and 'work' in either a class big RE book or personal RE books.  In Year 2 pupils understanding is assessed using discussion and recording in a personal RE book. The key assessment objectives are identified in each unit of work.  The class teacher records observations on short term plans.  At the end of a unit of work the teacher  assesses each pupil against the RE attainment targets and the results are recorded on the school’s tracking system.