Religious Education (R.E.)

The teaching of Religious Education at Pluckley Church of England Primary School enables children to develop Religious literacy through an understanding of Christianity and other major world religions, in order that they develop tolerance and understanding of the local, national and global communities in which they live. Links with the Christian values of the school and spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are intrinsic to the RE curriculum and have a significant impact on learners.

The three aims of the curriculum are:

• To enable pupils to know about and understand Christianity as a living faith that influences the lives of people worldwide and as the religion that has most shaped British culture and heritage
• To enable pupils to know and understand about other major world religions and world views, their impact on society, culture and the wider world, enabling pupils to express ideas and insights
• To contribute to the development of pupils’ own spiritual/philosophical convictions, exploring and enriching their own beliefs and values.

Time Allocation:

The Kent Agreed Syllabus requires a minimum 5% curriculum time for RE, which amounts to 1 hour a week at Key Stage One and 1 hour and 25 minutes per week at Key Stage Two. In the Early Years RE is taught for at least 30 minutes per week. This is in addition to time for worship.

Breadth and balance:

Christianity is allocated 2/3 of the RE curriculum. The other 1/3 is allocated to other faiths (Judaism, Islam, Sikhism and Hinduism). Since September 2017, we have been following The Kent Agreed Syllabus supplemented by the Understanding Christianity Resource.

Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum:

RE in the Early years is linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum through the Early Learning Goals. Christianity is the main religion taught at this early stage, with other religions drawn on as appropriate. During the Foundation Stage children begin to explore the world of religion in terms of special people, special books, special times, special places, special objects and visiting places of worship.

Children listen to and talk about religious stories. They are introduced to specialist worlds and use their senses in exploring religious beliefs, practices and forms of expression. They reflect on their own feelings and experiences. They use their imagination and curiosity to develop their appreciation of, and wonder at the world in which we live.