Religious Education
Our Intent
As a Church of England School we believe that Religious Education is a unique subject that enriches and challenges our children's understanding of the world they live in. Religious Education equips children with the knowledge to understand a range of religions and beliefs and the skills to understand, interpret and articulate their personal beliefs, values and experiences.
Through our religious Education curriculum we aim to:
Make sense of a range of religious beliefs, so children 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.
Understand the impact and significance of religious and non-religious beliefs, so 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.
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 they study, and consider how these ideas might challenge their own thinking, articulating beliefs, values and commitments clearly in their 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.
Our Curriculum Implementation:
Religious Education is a statutory subject and must be provided for all children in state-funded schools in England, unless withdrawn by their parents.
At Ursula Taylor we have adopted and follow the locally agreed syllabus for Bedfordshire. 'Identities, Meanings and Values.' All children who attend our school from Reception to the end of Year 6 follow this syllabus.
As an Academy, upon conversion in 2013, we made a commitment to maintaining full coverage of the National Curriculum and the locally agreed Religious Education syllabus. This has remained the decision of the Board of Trustees and will continue to be the case since joining the Diocese of St Alban's Multi-Academy Trust in January 2022.
To supplement the Bedfordshire Syllabus we use 'Understanding Christianity: Text, Impact and Connections'.
Religious Education is timetabled and taught on a weekly basis, but is sometimes taught through a class topic or as a whole school RE day. Alongside the coverage of RE as a curriculum subject, we provide a broad and rich range of extra-curricular activities designed to enhance of RE provision, our Christian Distinctiveness as a Church School and to support our children's personal development.
Lessons are planned in a variety of ways ensuring that all children can access and participate in all aspects of the curriculum. We are an inclusive school, which tailors the curriculum and lesson delivery to meet the individual needs of our children.
Throughout RE, we encourage our children to share and discuss their beliefs and to be curious about the beliefs of other people. 'Big' questions are used to provide a stimulus for reflection and to support the understanding of difficult concepts.
Children's attainment and progress is assessed through the use of key outcomes within the Bedfordshire Syllabus. These outcomes focus on three elements:
- Making sense of beliefs
- Understanding the impact
- Making connections
Each element is covered across the academic year, balancing knowledge with key skills.
Progress and attainment in RE is reported annually to parents within the end of year school report.
The Impact of our curriculum:
The religious Education provision at Ursula Taylor C of E school impacts upon our children in the following ways:
- Children develop their knowledge of religious and non-religious beliefs.
- Children develop their ability to understand and respond to a wide range of religious traditions and world views.
- Our children understand and respect different religions, beliefs, values and traditions.
- We encourage and support our children to be reflective and expressive and communicate their feelings and personal responses.
- Our children develop a respect for and understanding of other people's beliefs.
- Our children develop and demonstrate an understanding of Christian and British values, sensitively respecting other faiths and beliefs.
- They experience a broad range of opportunities, both within the RE curriculum and as part of a distinctively Christian Primary School.
- They experience an education and curriculum provision that is grounded in the golden thread of values and provides opportunities for Social, Moral, Cultural and Spiritual development and growth.
- Our children leave Ursula Taylor having experienced a rich and engaging curriculum and having developed a deeper understanding of religious and non-religious views, as well as knowing more about cultures and beliefs important to people in the wider community
- Our Year 6 children leave us having completed the Archbishop of York, Youth Leader's Award. This empowers our children to be a part of something bigger than themselves and to develop an understanding of the importance of service and community.