RE

RE Curriculum Overview

" Inspiring us all to create a better world"

Matthew 5: 13-15 " You are the salt of the earth...you are the light of the world."

At Holmer C of E Academy, our RE curriculum explores big questions about life, finding out what people believe and what difference this makes to how pupils live. Our curriculum helps pupils make sense of religion and belief, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living.

For all pupils, our intent, delivered utilising the Herefordshire Agreed Syllabus and Understanding Christianity resources, is to develop children’s understanding and knowledge of different religions as they progress through the school. Our pupils will also gain a deeper understanding of Christianity through the teaching of Christian concepts. Our RE curriculum offers opportunities for pupils to know and understand about other major religions and world views. Our curriculum will enable children to explore answers to thought-provoking questions and develop a confidence to talk about their own beliefs.

Herefordshire Agreed Syllabus for RE 2020–2025

Coherent understanding: There is an increased emphasis on helping pupils to develop a coherent understanding of several religions, by studying one religion at a time (systematic study) and bringing together and comparing different traditions (thematic study). The thematic study allows pupils to draw together their learning each year.

Core concepts: Clarity about identifiable core concepts of religions and beliefs helps teachers and pupils to understand how beliefs and practices connect, so that pupils are able to build effectively on prior learning as they progress through the school.

This syllabus incorporates the Understanding Christianity approach, which helps all teachers support pupils in developing their own thinking and their understanding of Christianity, as a contribution to their understanding of the world and their own experience within it.

We aim to see pupils leave school with a coherent understanding of Christian belief and practice. Pupils explore the significant theological concepts within Christianity as part of developing their wider religious, theological and cultural literacy.

The curriculum for RE aims to ensure that all pupils make sense of a range of religious and non- religious beliefs, so that they can:

• identify, describe, explain and analyse beliefs and concepts in the context of living religions, using appropriate vocabulary
• explain how and why these beliefs are understood in different ways, by individuals and within communities

• recognise how and why sources of authority (e.g. texts, teachings, traditions, leaders) are used, expressed and interpreted in different ways, developing skills of interpretation

It aims to ensure that all pupils understand the impact and significance of religious and non-religious beliefs, so that they can:

• examine and explain how and why people express their beliefs in diverse ways
• recognise and account for ways in which people put their beliefs into action in diverse ways, in their everyday lives, within their communities and in the wider world
• appreciate and appraise the significance of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning

It ensures that pupils make connections between religious and non-religious beliefs, concepts, practices and ideas studied, so that they can:

• evaluate, reflect on and enquire into key concepts and questions studied, responding thoughtfully and creatively, giving good reasons for their responses
• challenge the ideas studied, and allow the ideas studied to challenge their own thinking, articulating beliefs, values and commitments clearly in response

• discern possible connections between the ideas studied and their own ways of understanding the world, expressing their critical responses and personal reflections with increasing clarity and understanding

RE - Intent, Implementation, Impact

RE Intent Implementation Impact Template.pdf

R.E. Curriculum 2023-2024

2023 - 2024 RE Long Term Plan

Some of our fantastic RE Lessons and Visits

From multi-faith days to visits to a Jewish synagogue, Hereford and Gloucester Cathedrals as well as regular visits to our own Holmer parish church, St Bartholomew’s, the children at Holmer are able to learn from religions, learn the impact of religion on people’s lives and make important connections with their own lives.

At Holmer, our RE lessons are full of discussion; hearing and valuing each other’s’ differing views is key as is respect and tolerance and we love learning through stories, role play, film and art.