The teaching of religious education at Greystones Primary School
In addition to reading the information that is detailed below, you may like to follow these links for more details about what is taught and expectations at Greystones (just click on the words):
R.E. Overview - Foundation to Year 6
R.E. Learning outside the classroom
Greystones Primary School - Religious Education Curriculum Statement
RE Progression of Skills
RE monitoring and evaluation in 2019/20 gave a clear indication that we needed to build on the good knowledge about religions that children have at Greystones, while enabling children to develop understanding of the impact that religion, belief and faith have on individuals. In addition the curriculum needed to give opportunity for personal response and reflection on ‘Big Questions’ and the spiritual aspects of life. DISCOVERY RE uses an EnquiryBased approach that meets both the needs of Greystones and the Sheffield Agreed Syllabus. This is the basis for our new RE scheme from September 2020 as it also gives opportunity to use Talk for Learning, apply Literacy skills and give opportunity for creative responses, as identified by children as important.
Intent
At Greystones Primary School, our RE curriculum is aimed at developing knowledge and understanding of the religion, belief and faith of other people and promoting thinking and reflecting by children of their own faith, belief and spirituality.The aims of RE (SACRE Agreed Syllabus 2019/2024) are:
Implementation
RE is delivered as 6 blocks of work over the year and may be a weekly subject or RE days or weeks. Children start each unit of work with a Hook lesson (bridging lesson) that links personal experience and resonance to helpunderstand the Key Question and the knowledge base they will be given. A sequence of lessons follow that give knowledge through an enquiry approach.Depth of understanding is key rather than a scatter approach to facts. These lessons may be discussion, story based or have some outcome in RE books. Children’s ideas, thoughts and outcomes on whiteboards or drama may be recorded in a Class RE Portfolio. In an Evaluation lesson, children draw together learning and understanding of the Key Question with an activity in their RE book. This is an assessment of their learning and gives evidence for impact judgements. The cycle is completed with opportunity to reflect and express their ideas and thoughts which may be part of a class portfolio or display.
Classroom environments
Classrooms are equipped with learning walls to aid in RE lessons which include key vocabulary and knowledge. Artefacts, pictures and photographs are key to understanding RE.
Educational visits
Where possible visits, and visitors, are planned to enhance the children’s understanding of religion, faith and belief. Role play and drama allow children to reflect on stories and how people feel. Visiting places of worship are key to children gaining insight into prayer and worship as well as how art and imagery are a vital part of religions.