RE
Intent: Why do we teach what we teach?
The purpose of this document is to clarify the how, why and what of religious Education teaching at Harris Academy Chobham. This is to be used by staff to clarify expectations, highlight the resources that we have at our disposal, and to ensure that a high-quality R.E curriculum is being taught to all.
Here at Harris Academy Chobham, we understand that the UK has a rich heritage of culture and diversity. Religion and belief for many people form a crucial part of their culture and identity. Religion and beliefs have become more visible in public life locally, nationally and internationally. The rapid pace of development in scientific and medical technologies and the environmental debate continue to present new issues which raise religious, moral and social questions. Because of this, our curriculum revolves around the fact that we want all children to be inspired to look at their own faith and share their traditions as well as explore their peers’. Children are taught to understand and respect the beliefs of others. We also want them to learn about the world’s major religions and cultures through tales and facts.
Implementation: What does Religious Education look like at Harris Academy Chobham?
We follow the Bromley agreed syllabus, with a Federation-produced overview for EYFS to KS2. It adopts anâ¯enquiry-based approach to teaching and learning. Christianity is taught in every year group, with Christmas and Easter given new treatment each year, developing the learning in a progressive way. As well as this, we cover Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhi at least once per year.
As R.E is a statutory subject, all classes teach and learn R.E once a week. The principle aim of the Harris Academy Chobham RE curriculum is to engage pupils in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religion and worldviews address, so that they can develop the understanding and skills needed to appreciate and appraise varied responses to these questions, as well as develop responses of their own. The RE curriculum, which is aligned with the Bromley Agreed Syllabus, follows an enquiry-based approach to teaching and learning, focusing on enquiry questions each year. These questions open up the content to be studied from EYFS to Year 6. Each enquiry has aâ¯learning objective which shows the learning over the enquiry and SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social andâ¯Cultural) development opportunities are mapped throughout. In EYFS, there is a focus on the ELG: ‘Understanding the World’ . Children are expected to describe their immediate environments; know some similarities and differences between different religious and cultural communities in this country; as well as, similarities and differences between other countries.
The teaching of R.E at Harris Academy Chobham places enquiry at the heart of learning. Each unit is planned so that it:
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is engaging and has a clear purpose.
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deepens pupils’ understanding of the nature, diversity and impact of religion and belief in the contemporary world.
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provides the opportunity for children to work collaboratively and independently, making links with other subjects and exploring big questions.
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allows time for the children to draw conclusions and be reflective.
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allows time for the children to reconsider their opinions and views.
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allows children to justify their views respectfully than simply expressing their personal feelings.
The teaching and learning of R.E at Harris Academy Chobham also offers children the opportunities to develop their SMSC skills, which equips them to be thoughtful, caring and active citizens in school and the wider society. This is by:
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Gathering insights into the impact of beliefs, practices and values, and whether they might be healthy or unhealthy.
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Allowing pupils to explore the value of safety in relation to attitudes to authority, property, relationships and the impact of ideas, and to develop social skills and empathy for others in considering these issues.
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Fostering a sense of self-awareness, belonging and identity that manifests itself in positive participation in school and community life.
At Harris Academy Chobham, we are particularly proud of how thoroughly we celebrate religious festivals. Each year, the RE leader organises festival days where pupils learn about, and partake in, lots of activities relating to each festival. For example, in the academic year 2021/2022, children celebrated Christmas, Vaisakhi, Pesach, Eid-Ul-Adha, Easter and Holi. We endeavour to expose children to a range of festivals within each religion to enhance and broaden their understanding.
Impact – how do we know what pupils have learnt and how well they have learnt it?
The RE curriculum will enable our pupils to make effective decisions, make links across areas of learning, and to be respectful of the views of others, as well as developing their understanding of some of the key religions and world views.
Throughout the year in EYFS, teachers are observing students' ability to meet their early learning expectations. They observe children and their ability to demonstrate their RE knowledge and understanding through conversation, circle time and play.
At the end of each unit, all students in KS1 and KS2 will be expected to meet the National Curriculum objectives. This is evidenced in two ways: substantive knowledge is assessed through the use of low-stakes multiple choice quizzes. These quizzes are adapted for the needs of our students to eliminate literacy barriers and focus on their scientific understanding. Using data analysis, teachers then plan activities to help revisit prior misconceptions. In addition to this, most year groups complete a writing task once a term to ensure that students are able to apply their learning to their key enquiry question.