Religious Education
What do we want for our children in Religious Education (RE) and why is it important?
Through teaching RE at Zetland Primary, we provide children with the opportunity to learn about different faiths and worldwide views. We also allow children to foster feelings of wonder, delight and mystery as we help our children to develop their own sense of identity and to grow in self-knowledge and confidence. Through exploring a variety of religious beliefs and views, we encourage respect, understanding and tolerance of those with different faiths.
How do we teach RE at Zetland Primary?
At Zetland Primary, we follow the Redcar and Cleveland Agreed Syllabus. This gives teachers a key question for each unit and suggested teaching activities to cover objectives. Children are taught about Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and other worldwide views as part of the Agreed Syllabus. Please click on this link to view the syllabus.
Teachers are given flexibility to teach RE, meaning it can be taught both regularly in weekly lessons or taught as a block.
Where possible, we are working hard to either invite visitors into school or take the children out for a visit to allow the children to deepen their understanding and spark engagement and interest. Recently in school, we have had a dance workshop focusing on the Hindu festival, Diwali and a speaker from the Islamic Centre in Newcastle. We have also got strong links with our local Church, St Peters. We have enjoyed welcoming Reverend Andy into our school and also going to visit the Church, both as part of our RE lessons but also for special services during the year.
We have also engaged children through carefully planned sessions where children explore something deeper. Children from Reception to Year Six, have all taken part in Experience Christmas, where children had the opportunity to learn and reflect more on each aspect of the Christmas story. As part of our Multi-Faith Week, children took part in a rotation of stations each exploring a different religious festival.
Children in Foundation Stage are taught R.E through carefully planned topic-based activities, exploring aspects of both the PSE and Understanding the World curriculum. They will be encouraged to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding which help them make sense of the world. Activities include a mixture of play, discussion and adult directed activities.
What is the impact of teaching RE at Zetland Primary?
Through high quality teaching and learning, we aim for children to:
- Develop the confidence to be independent and take responsibility for their own learning
- Achieve age-related expectations as set out by the Redcar and Cleveland Agreed Syllabus for R.E
- Acquire a rich vocabulary, which will enable them to articulate their understanding of taught concepts.
Teachers track children’s progress against the Redcar and Cleveland Agreed Syllabus objectives for R.E. This information helps teachers to plan for future learning and identify children who require support or further challenge.
Please click on the links below to find out what your child is learning in school. Parents and carers should be aware that they have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of RE.
Whole School Curriculum Overview
