Religious Education (RE) and Collective Worship

Religious Education (RE) stands for Religious Education – the study of different religions, helping pupils to develop knowledge and understanding of the religions and beliefs which form part of contemporary society.

At SKPS, all classes also take part in regular collective worship, where we come together as a school community to reflect, explore values, and learn from a wide range of faiths and worldviews. Through collective worship, pupils are encouraged to explore what we can learn from the teachings across different religions, as well as shared human values such as kindness, respect, and compassion. This supports pupils’ spiritual development and complements their learning in RE.

Intent

At SKPS, we follow the Discovery RE scheme. Each new unit starts with a learning question which the children will try to find answers to further their learning. We aim for teachers to feel confident to teach RE and for our pupils to be engaged with the lessons and their learning; wanting to know more about the world around them, different people, faiths, and beliefs.

We want the children at SKPS to understand what we have in common as well as the differences people may have, enabling them to show tolerance, respect, and appreciation for everyone. Our RE curriculum, alongside collective worship, encourages pupils to reflect thoughtfully on beliefs, values, and experiences from a range of faiths and cultures.

Implementation

Discovery RE is a comprehensive planning resource for Religious Education for Years R to 6. This scheme makes RE lessons exciting and engaging for pupils. Discovery RE uses a four-step method for each unit which enables pupils to weigh up evidence and reach conclusions. This necessitates children using their subject knowledge and applying it to the learning question, rather than this knowledge being the only end-point aim.

The learning is recorded through class floor books, which become more child-led and less teacher-led as pupils move through the school. Discovery RE focuses on critical thinking skills, personal reflection on the child’s own thoughts and feelings, growing subject knowledge, and nurturing spiritual development. These aims are further supported through whole-school collective worship.

Step 1: Engagement

The human experience underpinning the key question is explored here within the pupil’s own experience, whether that includes religion or not. For example, the human experience underpinning the question ‘What is the best way for a Sikh to show commitment to God?’ is ‘commitment’. Lesson 1 therefore aims to help all children resonate with the experience of commitment in their own lives. If pupils can relate to this human experience, they will be better able to understand the world of religion into which the enquiry takes them.

Step 2: Investigation

The teacher guides the children through the enquiry, with pupils gaining subject knowledge carefully selected to assist their thinking about the key question. The acquisition of information about the religion or belief system being studied is important, but not as an end in itself.

Step 3: Evaluation

This lesson draws together the pupil’s learning and their conclusions about the key question of that enquiry.

Step 4: Expression

Children are taken back to Step 1, their own experience, to reflect on how this learning might have influenced their own starting points and beliefs. Children’s progress is recorded in a whole-class RE floor book which shows the RE learning journey.

Impact

To review the impact and progression of learning in RE, the subject leader will scan floor books, review planning, speak to pupils about their learning, visit lessons, and reflect on wider practice with class teachers. From this, changes and adaptations will be made to the teaching and learning to support both pupils and staff.

We want all pupils to learn about different religions, faiths, and beliefs, to reflect thoughtfully during collective worship, and to speak clearly and confidently about their learning in RE.