Religious Education curriculum statement

In RE, our intention at Maplefields is to give all pupils the opportunities to:

• Have a broad and balanced understanding of beliefs from a variety of religions, to reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are, in main, Christian while considering the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain and globally.
• Recall facts and opinions of others about religions and beliefs.
• Prepare pupils for responsibilities and experiences of later life, including promoting independence.
• Promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental health and physical development of pupils linking closely to PSHE.
• To allow all pupils to explore their own views on spirituality in an informed and safe environment.
• Develop language and communication skills through discussions, key words, stories and religious literacy. To make reasoned and informed judgements about religious issues. Through the explicit teaching of world and personal issues an environment that encourages debate and discussion is created which will allow students to explore their own understanding and that of their peers.
• To promote a curiosity and understanding of the thoughts and beliefs of others. Developing an appreciation of how religious belief or a lack thereof will create certain thoughts, beliefs and expectations from others.
• Build healthy relationships with others to understand how to treat other people, respecting others views and coping with death and suffering.
• Enable the pupils to ask questions, understanding some cause wonder and may not be able to be answered.
• Incorporate cross-curricular skills, such as comprehension, through school agreed programmes.

Introduction:

KS1:

In cycle A, pupils study units from the Locally Agreed syllabus including some school designed units. There is a focus on Christianity within the Autumn terms, learning about some of the key people within the religion. In the spring term, they begin to look at Judaism and the importance of family. In the summer terms, they will begin to look at their own ideas about God based off what they know and believe. They will then continue to look at their own beliefs and ideas linked to family ties.

In Cycle B, pupils will continue to study the Locally Agreed syllabus as well as some school units. In the Autumn term, they will begin by looking at Christianity and their “special places”. For the Spring term, they will look further into Judaism with a focus on the Torah. They will use this time to begin to recognise links between Judaism and Christianity. Within the Summer term, they will return to Christianity looking at the Bible and different religious stories from it.

Lower KS2:

In cycle A pupils will continue to use the Locally agreed syllabus as well as some school units. Within the first part of the Autumn term, pupils will look at themes around “light and dark” and how this is represented in religion. Following on from this, pupils will focus on Christianity and look at the significance of the Christmas story. For the Spring terms, pupils will continue to learn about Christianity, focussing on Jesus and his importance to Christians. Within the Summer term, pupils will begin to look at their own beliefs and values around themes of “Rules”, “Good and Bad” and “Money”. For the final part of the summer term, they will focus on Prayer and how it’s used in different religions and life.

In cycle B pupils will continue to use the Locally agreed syllabus as well as some school units. In the Autumn term, pupils will look at Islam and how Muslims live their lives. Within the Spring term, the pupils start by understanding what is peace through their own ideas as well as ideas from religions. They then focus on the story of Easter and the significance of different aspects of the Easter story for Christians. For the Summer term, pupils look at “Christianity in Action” where they can relate their beliefs to the beliefs of others. They also have the opportunity to discover how Christianity is presented in Britain today.

Upper KS2- In cycle A pupils will continue to use the Locally agreed syllabus as well as some school units. In the Autumn term, pupils begin by learning about different stories of faith with a focus on Christianity. Following on from this, they develop their own understanding of “rights and responsibilities” for as they grow up. They link their ideas to how different religions have different ceremonies to represent growing up. For the Spring term, Pupils begin to look at Sikhism and how it is presented within Britain and how Sikhs live their lives. Following from this, they continue to look at different religions within their own local and wider community. In the Summer term, pupils begin to question “whose world is it”? They look at the beliefs of multiple religions and compare these ideas against Science as well as their own beliefs.

In cycle B pupils will continue to use the Locally agreed syllabus as well as some school units. In the Autumn term the pupils start by looking at Hinduism in Britain and how it’s presented. They then continue to look at “Beliefs and actions in the world”, looking into how religion and charities can link together. Within the Spring term the pupils look at themes around “life and death”, using their own ideas and beliefs as well as understanding the beliefs of other religions. For the Summer term they begin by looking at themes around “wisdom” by looking at different teachings from various religions. Finally, they look at “festivals” and how they are presented in religion and the significance of them.

KS3:

Yr7 – Pupils study units from the Locally Agreed syllabus including some school designed units. In the autumn term, they will study the themes “Right & Wrong” and “What do Christians believe about God?” In the spring term, they will study “Judaism as a living religion” and draw comparisons with further work on the Christian idea of God. In the summer term, they study more aspects of Judaism and “What do people really believe” which aims to dispel some myths and misinformation.

Yr8 (cycle A) – Continuing to follow the Locally Agreed Syllabus, in the autumn term pupils study units on “Christian teachings on origins, purpose and destiny”, also looking at “Christian ways of life”. In the spring and summer terms, they look at “Buddhism as a living religion” drawing comparisons again with Christian ways of life.

Year 9 (cycle B) – In the autumn term, pupils look at “Places in Religion” from a global perspective, followed by “Religion and the arts”. In the spring they study “Islam as a living religion”, followed by “Hinduism as a living religion”, comparing and contrasting the two. In the summer, they study “Sikhism as a living religion” and “Learning from Religion and Science”.

KS4:

In KS4 the programme of study incorporates Religious Education, Philosophy and Ethics. Lessons focus on looking at ideas and opinions, exploring the reasoning behind these ideas, examining them with a view on ethics and then exploring counter arguments. There is a focus on developing communication skills, such as debate. Students will continue to recap and develop knowledge of the main religions taught through the previous key stages.

Topics are chosen for their relevance and opportunity to provoke debate.

Cycle A

In cycle one we will look at the following topics:

Religion and Life Issues: Planet Earth, stewardship and animal rights.

Religion and Life Issues: Early life, the sanctity of life, abortion and prejudice

Religious Philosophy: The problem of evil and suffering and Immortality.

Religious Philosophy: Miracles and revelation in scripture.

Religion and citizenship: Relationships and human rights including euthanasia.

Religion and citizenship: Multicultural society.

Cycle B

In cycle two we will explore the following topics:

Religious attitudes: Life and death, the poor and charity.

Religious attitudes: Justice, what is the nature of good.

Philosophy of Religion: The characteristics of God.

Philosophy of Religion: Science and religion.

Philosophy of Religion: The existence of God.

Philosophy of Religion: The afterlife.