Religious Education

quote differences were meant not to divide but to enrich j h oldham 53 42 03

"Differences were meant not to divide, but to enrich"

J.H. Oldham.

Religious Education at our school

The aim of the John Clifford Primary RE curriculum is to bind our community by creating an ethos of tolerance, empathy and respect, developed through understanding people’s religious beliefs.

The children at John Clifford Primary will have the knowledge and understanding of the key religions that have shaped the world in which they live.

The RE curriculum closely links with English, History and Geography through stories, historical facts and geographical locations. As well as exploring Art, Music and Dance that religion has influenced throughout our history.

Why do we teach RE at John Clifford?

RE is an essential skill part of the curriculum because it helps pupils develop an understanding of themselves, others and the world around us.

Our children will explore the influence of religious beliefs on individuals and culture throughout history. By learning from religions and world views and their different ways of life, our children will discover, explore and consider many different answers to questions about people’s identities, what it means to belong, and the personal value people attach to beliefs.

Through creative, imaginary, thorough and respectful lessons, we desire to mould good citizens of the future who will live in a modern Britain promoting equality, pride, fairness, freedom and respect. Through RE, our aim is to celebrate the spiritual, moral and cultural development of all our pupils.

How do we teach RE at John Clifford?

In order to implement the teaching of RE successfully at John Clifford, we follow the Nottinghamshire Agreed Syllabus.

The RE curriculum develops an understanding of the world through the key religions that influence our community and the world around us, with an introduction to key festivals in Foundation through stories and developing an understanding of what ‘belief’ is in KS1.

In KS1&2 children will study Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism with opportunity for enquiry, discussion and debate throughout.

In KS2 the themes of poverty, sacrifice, redemption, prayer and practice of sin are further explored through each religion and children are given the opportunity to explore the bigger questions in life.

At John Clifford, we believe children should be given the opportunity to interrogate, enjoy, write, talk, discuss and debate RE, as well as being provided the opportunity for personal reflection.

Collective Worship

Collective Worship is delivered during assemblies at John Clifford in support of the RE curriculum. In order to deliver Collective Worship successfully, we have followed the guidance set by Nottinghamshire’s SACRE to enable our school community to focus on any of the following:

Explore together the world in which we live.
Develop a community spirit.
Celebrate together and share common values.
Develop a reflective approach to living and thinking deeply.
Foster a corporate identity and build community.
Affirm the individual and the community.
Deepen every individual’s capacity for emotional responses.
Awaken empathetic responses.
Look beyond the material and the physical.
Share experiences and possibilities of the transcendent.
Challenge and question their own thinking and the views of others.

Please Note: Children are not forced to participate during these times and parents reserve the right to withdraw their child(ren) from both Religious Education lessons and assemblies.