Subject Leader: Mrs Karen Triner

Introduction

Sneyd Academy is a school that has a diverse range of religions.  This provides a strong platform for us to promote our school values which include respect, friendship and pride alongside promoting British Values. To add to this, we have developed a welcoming ethos for all children, visitors and staff where respect, tolerance and equality are key components of our relationships and curriculum.  As a school we believe that Religious Education (RE) provides an opportunity to celebrate diversity and show an awareness of differences within our school and the wider world; it also provides children with the opportunity to challenge stereotypes. We want our children to experience wonder and joy through learning about and from stories, celebrations, rituals and different expressions of religion and worldviews during their time with us.  As a school, we believe in using the wealth of knowledge and expertise of our growing proportion of religious families to provide opportunities to share their religious beliefs and values with our children and we welcome them into our classrooms.

We enjoy a special relationship with our local church, St Andrew’s Church of England whom supports us with special celebrations, the delivery of aspects of the curriculum and themed assemblies. We are also improving links with other religions so that our curriculum and assemblies represent the dynamic school community.

The Subject Leader

I am Mrs Triner, Reception class teacher and Religious Education Leader here at Sneyd Academy.  It is my responsibility to oversee the effective planning and delivery of the subject within the school from Early Years to Year 6, ensuring our children are provided with diverse experiences.

It is paramount that as curriculum leader I endeavour to keep abreast with any changes to the curriculum and relay this back to staff.  Attending Primary RE Network meetings with other professionals demonstrates my commitment and passion for the subject ensuring that it is high profile and led by example.  Learning walks, book scrutiny, monitoring planning and conducting pupil voice to gain an understanding of the views of our learners, ensures the teaching and learning of RE at Sneyd Academy is robust and that every child makes progress.

Intent

The intent of the RE curriculum at Sneyd Academy is to help pupils to acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other principal religions represented in Great Britain. It appreciates the way that religious beliefs can shape our life and behaviour and develops the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues. It provides rich opportunities for pupils to learn about things that matter in the lives of local people and the wider world and is structured so that they can explore a range of creative, challenging and thoughtful responses to questions of identity, meaning, purpose, values and commitments.  In this process they can examine and reflect upon their own ideas and values which promotes and enhances pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.  At a time when religious beliefs guide the lives of billions of people worldwide, understanding people’s views can be a first step to recognising and appreciating diversity. This is particularly important at a time of global tensions.

Curriculum

RE at Sneyd Academy is taught throughout the school from EYFS to Year 6 in accordance with the aims of the Stoke-on-Trent Agreed Syllabus.  Our RE curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is sequenced to demonstrate progression. Learning is based around a key question approach with each year group following a long- term plan which stipulates what is to be taught every half or full term in EYFS, KS1 and KS2.  In addition, they will have access to key knowledge, language, meanings and symbols to understand the different religions studied.  These will be made available in the classroom.  A wide variety of teaching approaches are used in lessons to ensure pupils make good progress, and all learning styles are catered for. Class teachers ensure there is a good balance of individual, whole class, group and mixed ability work, role play as well as allowing time for discussion and reflection.  It fulfils the duties of the National Curriculum 2014, whereby schools must provide a balanced and broadly-based curriculum which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and prepares them for the opportunities and responsibilities and experiences for later life.

All pupils will learn from Christianity in each year group in addition to Islam, Judaism and Hinduism.  There are no presumptions made as to the religious backgrounds and beliefs and values of the pupils and the staff.  We value the religious background of all members of the school community and hope that this will encourage individuals to share their own experiences with others freely.  All religions and their communities are treated with respect and sensitivity and we value the links, which are, and can be made between home, school and a faith community.  We acknowledge that each religion studied can contribute to the education of all our pupils.  We promote teaching in RE that promotes open enquiry and first-hand experiences wherever possible for both staff and pupils.

Enrichment

All year groups will be involved in visits and visitors to provide first hand experiences for all pupils to support and develop their learning.  For example, visits to local places of worship, visitors into school from a specific faith to share their skills/culture and visitors from a local food bank.  Each year, pupils from Year 6 attend a RE conference where they learn about different faiths through shared experiences and dialogue, engaging with other primary and secondary schools within the area.

Right of Withdrawal

Parents have the right to withdraw their child from the teaching of Religious Education on the grounds that they wish to provide their own. This will be the parents’ responsibility.  In this situation, the class teacher and/or principal will discuss with the parent, prior to any learning taking place, to ensure that they fully understand the aims and values of what Religious Education is being taught before honouring this right.

Inclusion Statement

All children will receive Quality First Teaching in Religious Education.  Through the teaching of RE all staff will endeavour to achieve maximum inclusion of all pupils (including SEND, Pupil Premium, EAL and higher attainers) whilst meeting their individual needs.   Differentiated learning opportunities will be provided, suitable learning challenges set and appropriate materials provided to support pupil’s interests, abilities and learning needs.  The identification of potential barriers to learning and assessment, and strategies put in place to overcome these, will enable pupils to have a full access to the RE curriculum. High expectations for all will enable pupils to reach their individual potential.

Collective Worship/Assemblies

These are carried out on a regular basis on a chosen theme and are led either by a member of Senior Leadership Team (SLT) or a visitor to our school.  Assemblies at important and significant times of the year are carried out by Rev. James and Sarah Baker and other visitors to our school which enables all pupils to engage in current celebrations that are happening in the local community and wider world.  Our whole school prayer which is based on our school values is practised daily within classes from Nursery to Year 6 and also at the end of assemblies by the lead person. The intention is that all pupils and staff know the whole school prayer by rote.

Pupil Voice

“It makes me able to understand what other people think and believe in” – Amy

“It helps to show what great people we have in the world and how they helped us” – Jamie

“It’s really interesting to learn about and the teacher’s do a good job teaching it” – Sarah

“It helps me understand why they have these beliefs and what they believe in” – Peter

“That it is really fun and you learn about different religions” – Eadie

“I ask questions when I don’t understand and when I want to know more” – Romarni

“It helps us be kind to others” – Ibrahim

“I don’t like RE – I love it!” – Rohan