RE
INTENT
Here at Creswell Junior school we are committed to offering a progressive RE curriculum that adopts enquiry-based teaching and learning, meeting the needs of all children and motivating enthusiasm for learning.
Religious Education at Creswell respects and promotes each child’s desire to gain knowledge through their own wonder, while raising aspirations and widening their understanding to the world beyond their immediate environment. This in turn will develop their knowledge and understanding of all members of our rich and diverse community. We believe that Religious Education is a key player in stimulating knowledge and understanding which can lead to tolerance and respect for others traditions, beliefs and backgrounds.
Throughout our RE curriculum there are opportunities for Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development at an appropriate level of challenge for their age. Our RE curriculum encourages evaluation and critical thinking, equipping them to consider belief positions they encounter, contributing significantly to understanding British Values. We encourage children to develop positive attitudes towards those values and to reflect and relate their learning in RE to their own experience.
IMPLEMENTATION
Modular Approach – Knowledge at Creswell Junior School, is taught across each year group in half termly modules that enable pupils to study in depth key understanding, skills and vocabulary. Each module aims to activate and build upon prior learning, to ensure better cognition and retention. Each module is carefully sequenced to enable pupils to purposefully layer learning from previous sessions to facilitate the acquisition and retention of key religious knowledge. Each module is revisited either later in the year or in the following year to ensure pupils retain key knowledge and information. Planning All modules have a sequenced overview outlining recommended number of sessions, key concepts, knowledge and vocabulary to be taught. Teachers use this overview to plan individual sessions approximately 40 minutes in length. All planning is based on the ‘Discovery RE’ plans which incorporate cooperative learning techniques and key vocabulary.
Year 3:
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Discovery Enquiry Religions Studied Would celebrating Divali at home and in the community bring a feeling of belonging to a Hindu child? OR Does joining the Khalsa make a person a better Sikh? |
Hinduism
Sikhism |
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Has Christmas lost its true meaning? |
Christianity |
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Christianity Could Jesus really heal people? Were these miracles or is there some other explanation? |
Christianity |
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Christianity What is “good” about Good Friday? |
Christianity |
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How can Brahman be everywhere and in everything? OR Do Sikhs this it is important to share? |
Hinduism Sikhism |
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Would visiting the River Ganges feel special to a non-Hindu? OR What is the best way for a Sikh to show commitment to God? |
Hinduism Sikhism |
Year 4:
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How special relationship is the relationship Jews have with God? OR Is it possible for everyone to be happy? |
Judaism Buddhism |
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What is the most significant part of the nativity story for Christians today? |
Christianity |
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How important is it for Jewish people to do what God asks them to do? OR Can the Buddha’s teachings make the world a better place? |
Judaism Buddhism |
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Is forgiveness always possible for Christians? |
Christianity |
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What is the best way for a Jew to show commitment to God? OR What is the best way for a Buddhist to lead a good life? |
Judaism Buddhism |
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Do people need to go to church to show they are Christians? |
Christianity |
Year 5:
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How far would a Sikh go for his/her religion? OR What is the best way for a Hindu to show commitment to God? |
Sikhism Hinduism |
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Is the Christmas story true? |
Christianity |
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Are Sikh stories important today? OR How can Brahman be everywhere and in everything? |
Sikhism Hinduism |
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How significant is it for Christians to believe God intend Jesus to die? |
Christianity |
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What is the best way for a Sikh to show commitment to God? OR Do beliefs in Karma, Samsara and Moksha help Hindus lead better lives? |
Sikhism Hinduism |
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What is the best way for Christian to show commitment to God? |
Christianity |
Year 6:
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What is the best way for a Muslim to show commitment to God? |
Islam |
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How significant is it that Mary is Jesus’ mother? OR Do Christmas celebrations and traditions help Christians understand who Jesus was and why he was born? |
Christianity Christianity |
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Is anything ever eternal? |
Christianity |
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Is Christianity still a strong religion 2000 years after Jesus was on Earth? |
Christianity |
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Does belief in Akhirah (life after death) help Muslims lead good lives? (Double unit) |
Islam |
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Does belief in Akhirah (life after death) help Muslims lead good lives? (Double unit) |
Islam |
IMPACT
Teachers plan carefully to ensure that children make progress with their learning in RE and each enquiry has a built-in assessment. The assessment task is the formal opportunity for teacher assessment of the children’s knowledge of that religion, depth of critical thinking, and ability to answer the enquiry question. This stand-alone evidence is used in conjunction with other evidence such as records of discussions and annotations from other lessons within the enquiry to assist the teacher in assessing whether a child is working at the expected level or towards or beyond it. Children are assessed over three aspects of learning:
a personal resonance with or reflection on the material/religion being studied to answer the enquiry question.
knowledge and understanding of the material/religion being studied to answer the enquiry question.
evaluation/critical thinking in relation to the enquiry question