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.

Primary

Green Class (KS1):

In Term 1, students learn about religious festivals (Diwali in Cycle A and Dia de los Muertos in Cycle B). This allows students to recognise the importance of festivals in religion and why they are important to followers of Hinduism and Christianity respectively. Students will begin to learn about key beliefs, teachings and practices of these religions to develop intellectual curiosity within RE, and to begin identifying similarities and differences between different world religions. In Term 2, students will learn about Christianity and the important aspects of the most followed religion in the UK. They will explore the story of the Nativity, and learn about how Jesus became an important figure to Christians. In Term 3, students will explore the beliefs, teachings and practices of Islam. They will learn about where in the world Islam is followed, and the traditions that Muslims follow. In Cycle B, students will explore religious festivals in Islam and the teachings around this. In Term 4, students will continue to learn about the beliefs and practices in Christianity, with particular focus on the Easter story. Students will learn about the celebrations that take place in the Christian church around this time of year, and the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. In Term 5, the students will explore the beliefs, teachings and practices of Judaism. They will learn about where in the world Judaism is followed, and the traditions that are followed by Jews. In Cycle B, students will explore religious festivals in Judaism, and the teachings around this. In Term 6, the students will compare two world religions (Cycle A – Christianity and Judaism, Cycle B – Christianity and Islam). This offers students the opportunity to begin recognising similarities and differences within world religions, and to develop knowledge around religious enquiry and philosophy which will be built upon in upcoming years.

Blue Class (LKS2):

In Term 1, students will explore religious festivals (including Diwali and All Soul’s Day/Day of the Dead). Students will explore the meaning of these festivals in their respective religion and also identify what they can learn from these festivals to apply to their own lives. In Term 2, students will learn about Christian beliefs, teachings and practices, identifying the importance of the nativity and the role that Jesus plays in this celebration. In Term 3, the students will learn about the beliefs, teachings and practices in Islam, comparing how it is worshipped in the UK to elsewhere in the world, and identifying the importance of prayer in this religion. In Term 4, the importance of Jesus to Christians will be explored, learning about the resurrection of Jesus and how this is the foundation of the Christian faith. In Term 5, students will learn about the beliefs, teachings and practices in Judaism and identify different observances that are recognised by the Jewish community. To explore non-religious communities, in Term 6 students will explore the beliefs and teachings in Humanism, and compare the beliefs of this organisation to those of the major world religions, offering a holistic view into different ways that people can connect spiritually.

Red/Purple Class (UKS2):

Students will explore Hinduism in Term 1, exploring the beliefs teachings and practices in Cycle A, and the celebrations and concepts that are fundamental in the Hindu religion in Cycle B. In Term 2 Cycle A, students will further develop their understanding of key beliefs, teachings and practices in Christianity. They will learn about why the Bible is important and the importance of the Christmas celebrations. In Cycle B, students will explore the different branches of Christianity, including Catholicism. They will also compare how the different branches of Christianity celebrate Christmas. In Term 3, students will explore beliefs and teachings of Islam, with a particular focus of Islam in Britain and how the Muslim communities are supported in our country. In Term 4 Cycle A, students will learn about Life and Death in Christianity, and the important role this plays in the Christian faith. Cycle B will explore the Christian beliefs around creation, and how the Christian views on creation compare to other world religions. In Term 5, students will learn about Judaism and the important role that the Torah and the Synagogue play in this faith. In Term 6, students will explore Humanism further, learning about the traditions and influences of this worldview, and comparing it to other world religions.  

KS3

Year 7 – In Term 1, Year 7 students will explore Islam, learning about the fundamental beliefs and values that are at the core of the religion (including the Five Pillars of Islam). In Term 2, students will learn about Christianity, identifying similarities and differences between different branches of Christianity and the views that Christians have on the creation. Students will also compare the Christian view of creation to the scientific research into the Big Bang, and debate the two viewpoints. In Term 3 the students will explore Sikhism and compare this to other world religions that they have studied. In Term 4, Year 7 will learn more about Judaism, focussing on the discrimination that the Jewish people faced during the Holocaust. Students will focus on why it is important to remember these events and how we can learn from them today. In Term 5, students will explore Hinduism, learning about how worship is conducted and the different gods and goddesses that are worshipped in this religion. In Term 6, Humanism will be explored in further detail, comparing this viewpoint to other non-religious communities.

Year 8/9 (Cycle A) – In Term 1, students will explore the Dharmic worldview of Sikhism. Students will learn about the key beliefs, teachings and practices of this religion and learn about the ways that the Sikh community worship around the world and in the UK. In Term 2, Year 8 and 9 students will learn about the key beliefs and values in Christianity. Students will learn about why the teaching of peace and reconciliation are important in the Bible and how the different branches of Christianity interpret the teachings of the Bible. In Term 3, students will explore Islam, and how this is followed in the UK. Students will also learn about the significance of the five pillars of Islam and how prejudice has impacted the Muslim communities around the world. In Term 4, students will explore how Christianity compares to other world religions, and the views that different religions take on world issues (including war, marriage, medical care etc). In Term 5, students will learn about Judaism and the key beliefs and practices observed in this religion. Students will explain the importance of Israel to the Jewish people, and deepen their understanding of the events of the Holocaust. In Term 6, students will learn about different non-religious worldviews (including Humanism, Atheist, Agnostic etc). students will compare these non-religious worldviews to world religions, and discuss the similarities and differences between their teachings and ideology.

Year 8/9 (Cycle B) – In Term 1, students will explore the Dharmic worldview of Buddhism. Students will learn about the importance of meditation in this religion, and how the teachings of the Buddha can teach people about mindfulness and wellbeing. In Term 2, students will learn about Hinduism, exploring the beliefs around life after death and the impact of belief in God on Hindu’s lives. In Term 3, students will explore the key beliefs of Judaism and the religious festivals that are important to the Jewish community. Students will also learn about the events of the Holocaust, and the impact that these events still have on the world today. In Term 4, students will explore the key beliefs in Islam, and how important prayer is to Muslims. Students will also learn about the prophets in Islam, and the importance of the Qur’an to Muslims. In Term 5, students will learn about the key beliefs of Humanism and identify what this can teach us about the way people view the world we live in. In Term 6, students will explore Gods and Religious Books. Students will delve deeper into the Godlike figures that different religions worship, and also explore ancient religions and mythology such as Norse, Greek and Egyptian beliefs. Students will also discuss the importance of religious texts, and their history. 

KS4

In KS4, students are studying an Entry Level in Religious Studies, which will give them an Entry Level 1, 2 or 3 qualifications. Students will study 2 religions (Catholicism and Judaism) in detail. The students will sit 4 papers: Catholic Beliefs, Teachings and Practices; Catholic Wisdom and Living; Jewish Beliefs, Teachings and Practices and Catholic Philosophy and Ethics.  

The aim of the qualification is for students to recognise achievement, and to aim high within the subject. It also aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of:

• Key beliefs, teachings and practices for two religions
• Source of wisdom and authority as well as forms of expression and ways of life
• Key aspects of religious philosophy and ethics.

Year 10 – In Year 10, students will work towards sitting the first two papers (Catholic Beliefs, Teachings and Practices and Catholic Wisdom and Living). Students will explore the key fundamentals to the beliefs in Catholicism, and the ways that Catholics worship. They will explore the role that the Pope and the Vatican play in the hierarchy of the church, as well as social teaching within the church and the mission that the church aims to have for its followers. Students will also explore the ways that Catholics express their religion through different art forms and objects, as well as the way that the church interpret the Bible compared to other branches of Christianity. Students will have the opportunity to sit the two papers several times, and to revise over the knowledge that they have learnt to support them going into Year 11. 

Year 11 – In Year 11, students will work towards sitting the final two papers (Jewish Beliefs, Teachings and Practices and Catholic Philosophy and Ethics). Students will explore the key fundamentals to the beliefs in Judaism, and the ways that Jewish people worship and follow their religion. Students will learn about the nature of God and the way Judaism views the Messiah. They will also explore the beliefs of life after death, and the religious laws that Jews follow. Students will explore the Jewish views on prayer and the laws around food. Students will explore Catholic Philosophy and Ethics through discussing the arguments for God’s existence in Catholicism. Students will compare religious scripture to scientific arguments around God’s existence, and debate their views on this. Students will then explore Catholic teachings on relationships and families, including views on marriage, sexual relationships, family planning and divorce. Students will also look at the Catholic views on equality between men and women both in the role of the family, and within the church. Students will have the opportunity to sit the two papers several times, and to revise over the knowledge that they have learnt across the two years of study to support them in aiming high and achieving the qualification.

Right to Withdrawal from RSE and/or RE

Parents and Carers have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of the Relationships and Sex Education Curriculum and/or the Religious Education Curriculum and do not need to give reasoning for this decision. Please contact the school if you wish to discuss any concerns. Alternatively please download and print off the letter below, sign it and return it to the school office.