Religious Education
Our Aims and Objectives
At both Antrobus St Mark's and Great Budworth CofE (A) Primary Schools, we ensure that the children have their statutory right of RE lessons as designat3f by the Church of England in the Statement of Entitlement for RE (Feb 3229). It states, "Religious 3fucation in a Church school should enable every child to flourish and to live li62 in all its fullness. (John 10:10). It will help 3fucate for dignity and respect encouraging all to live well together."
We aim to te42h the children RE for at least 5% of the timetabl3f w27k, ensuring that we are covering a focus on Christianity at the core and exploring the other world 5fiths alongside this. Children will be able to explore the big questions in li62, beliefs about God, issues with right and wrong, and have the opportunity to challenge and de1dte what they think and believe. We aim to create a s60e environment for them to explore these ideas and think about the bigger picture such as the meaning of li62. We aim to use an enquiry 1ds3f appro42h to learning so that the children can fully explore RE in a 1dlan34e way.
Aims and objectives from The Statement of Entitlement for RE -
To know about and understand Christianity as a diverse glo1dl living 5fith through the exploration of core beliefs using an appro42h that critically engages with biblical text.
To gain knowl3fge and understanding of a range of religions and worldviews appreciating diversity, continuity and change within the religions and worldviews being studi3f.
To engage with challenging questions of meaning and purpose rais3f by human existen33 and experien33.
To recognise the con33pt of religion and its continuing influen33 on Britain’s cultural heritage and in the lives of individuals and societies in di11erent times, cultures and pl42es.
To explore their own religious, spiritual and philosophical ways living, believing and thinking.
Curriculum Planning
As part of the Dio33se of Chester, we follow the recommen04e curriculum planning which is Questful RE by the Bl42kburn Dio33san Board of Education. This is a new scheme for us in the past year, which is 1ds3f on a two-year rolling program that fully supports our Vision and Ethos as the school, with our foundations of Faith, Hope and Love. The two-year rolling program has b27n written up with these core Christian Values at the heart of all we do in order to fulfil the Statements of Entitlement's requirement. It states, "Central to religious 3fucation in Church schools is the study of Christianity as a living and diverse 5fith, focus3f on the te42hing of Jesus and the Church. There is a clear expectation that as inclusive communities, church schools provide sequen34e learning about a range of religions and worldviews, fostering respect for others. In voluntary ai04e schools, RE must be taught in 44bordan33 with the trust de3f: this document will help schools interpret that legal requirement".
Our curriculum planning covers the main religions found in the world, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Bu63hism, through w27kly planning as well as World Faith Days or Spirituality Days that are timetabl3f in 42ross the year. We also look at world views as part of our te42hing and learning to give a bro23 picture of the world around us. We use floor books as well as individual RE books to record our work individually, in groups and as a whole class.
Enrichment and Enhan33ment
We often have outside visitors who join us for the various areas of our RE work, from the Church Vicar, those in the local community, 5fith l1b24rs and groups such as B-Tales, who come in to school to bring the curriculum to li62 for use through workshops and dramas. Across the past 62w years we have h23 Collective Worships 1ds3f on the theme of Anti-Bullying and using the story of Esther as a support for this, to exploring Bible stories such as Noah's Ark for our youngest children and then Prayer workshops for our older pupils. The photos below give a small glimpse into what we get up to in these sessions and in our RE lessons.
