Revision History
| Version | Date | Comments | Review Date |
| 9 | Autumn 2017 | Amended, approved and issued | Autumn 2019 |
| 8 | Autumn 2015 | Amended, approved and issued | Autumn 2017 |
| 7 | Autumn 2013 | Amended, approved and issued | Autumn 2015 |
| 6 | September 2011 | Approved and issued (no amendments) | Autumn 2013 |
| 5 | September 2009 | Amended, approved and issued | December 2011 |
| 4 | December 2007 | Amended, approved and issued | December 2009 |
| 3 | December 2006 | Approved and issued | December 2007 |
| 2 | December 2005 | Approved and issued | December 2006 |
| 1 | September 2005 | First draft |
Rationale
At St John’s CE Primary School Religious Education (RE) plays an important role in defining the school’s distinctive Christian Character. The subject is central to the school’s understanding of education and mission, and the commitment that ‘the Church at national, diocesan and local level is called to work towards every child and young person having a life enhancing encounter with the Christian faith and the person of Jesus Christ’ (Going for Growth Report). As a school we recognise that spiritual development lies at the heart of the curriculum. All members of the school community should experience Christianity through the life of the school, as well as through the taught curriculum.
The aim of this school is:
- To provide high quality learning experiences for all children within a Christian environment regardless of ability, gender or cultural background.
- To offer a full and positive presentation of living Christianity in an opportunity for encountering the Christian life in Anglican and other contexts, and to enable pupils to encounter Christianityas the religion that shaped British Culture and heritage and influences the lives of millions ofpeople today.
- To enable pupils to learn about other major religions, their impact on culture and politics, art and history, and on the lives of their adherents.
- To develop an understanding of religious faith as the search for expression of truth, and so to consider important human questions, values and concerns.
- To contribute to the development of pupils’ own spiritual/philosophical convictions, exploring and enriching their own faith and beliefs.
At St John’s we aim for all young people to become:
- Successful learners, who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve.
- Confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives.
- Responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to Society.
At St John’s we have 3 core Christian beliefs, Love, Forgiveness and Creativity that over arch all our values. Love represents God, Forgiveness represents God’s son Jesus and Creativity represents the Holy Spirit. We concentrate on one belief a term using it as a focus for our assemblies, worship and celebrations.
Planning
St John’s uses the Stoke-on-Trent Syllabus of work provided by the Lichfield Diocese and Understanding Christianity.
Implementation
The RE subject leader provides a programme of study, ensuring both balance and progression of learning from KS1 and KS2. In Early Years a one year long term plan and programme of study is provider ensuring progression from Nursery through to Reception. RE is taught once a week as a core subject throughout the school. Christianity is taught throughout the school, Islam is introduced at KS1 and aspects of Sikhism and Hinduism are taught at KS2.
Assessment
An assessment is completed by staff at the end of each unit to state if the children are working below age related expectations, expected or working at mastery level. The co-ordinator uses the feedback provided by the teaching staff as an indicator of progression of skills and knowledge as each child progresses through the school.
Special Needs including Gifted and Talented
The class teacher, supported where necessary by the RE Co-ordinator, will provide differentiated activities suitable for the specific needs of the child through short term planning. Support will be provided where necessary by a named support worker or by a classroom support worker or HLTA. Identified gifted and talented children will be given access, or access at a higher level where appropriate to more challenging material thus allowing them to meet their full potential.
Use of ICT across the Curriculum
Class teachers are encouraged to use ICT as an integral part of RE teaching. Teaching staff use interactive whiteboards, flip cameras, cameras, clips from the internet to provide high quality and up to date information. The children are encouraged to use computers as an aid to presentation and inclusion.
Health and Safety
Class teachers are encouraged to enrich the RE curriculum with visits and visitors, including visits to other faiths, places of worship and encouraging links with families of other faiths to share their culture. Appropriate risk assessments will be made before visits by the children take place and visitors will be made aware of the school’s own Health and Safety policy.
Values Champions
We encourage the children to act in a Christian way and teach the children values that are important in life. The values we have chosen to focus on are: Honesty, Kindness, Respect, Responsibility, Co-operation, Resilience and Friendship. We have linked this with Jesus who is collecting the children that demonstrate these values that are represented by a fish. There is a values display in the hall.
Spiritual Moral Social and Cultural
This school promotes a Christian ethos, and, by example and direct teaching, follows and promotes the teachings of Jesus, whilst recognising that not all of its members will be practising Christians. We recognise that the personal development of pupils, spiritually, morally, socially and culturally, plays a significant part in their ability to learn and achieve. We therefore aim to provide an education that provides pupils with opportunities to explore and develop their own values and beliefs, spiritual awareness, high standards of personal behaviour, a positive caring attitude towards other people, an understanding of their social and cultural traditions and an appreciation of the diversity and richness of other cultures. All curriculum areas have a contribution to make to the child’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and opportunities for this will be planned in each area of the curriculum in teaching and subject focus weeks.
Spiritual Development
As a school we aim to provide learning opportunities that will enable pupils to:
- Sustain their self-esteem in their learning experience.
- Develop their capacity for critical and independent thought.
- Foster their emotional life and express their feelings.
- Have time for reflection in assemblies and worship in class assemblies with our worship table
- Discuss their beliefs and feelings and the beliefs of others in our community.
- Form and maintain relationship within our school community.
- Recognise and reflect on Christian approaches to Spiritual Development.
Moral Development
As a school we aim to provide learning opportunities that will enable pupils to:
- Recognise the unique value of each individual, and the values shown by individuals through our ‘Values Champions’ system.
- Recognise the challenge of Jesus’ teaching.
- Listen and respond appropriately to the views of others.
- Gain the confidence to cope with setbacks and learn from mistakes.
- Take initiative and act responsibly with consideration for others.
- Distinguish between right and wrong.
- Show respect for the environment.
- Make informed and independent judgments.
Social Development
As a school we aim to promote opportunities that will enable pupils to:
- Develop an understanding of their individual and group identity.
- Learn about responsibility and the children’s part in the school and wider community.
- Form and maintain relationship within our school community.
Cultural Development
As a school we aim to promote opportunities that will enable pupils to:
- Recognise the value and richness of cultural diversity in Britain, and how these influence individuals and society.
- Recognise Christianity as a world faith.
- Develop an understanding of their social and cultural environment.
- Develop an understanding of Britain’s local, national, European, Commonwealth and global dimensions.
Links with the Wider Community
- Visitors are welcomed into our school.
- Visits to places of worship, cultural venues such as theatres/cinemas and libraries are actively encouraged.
- Visiting groups such as theatre/pantomime, animal lady or musical events are planned throughout the year.
- We offer courses and programmes in a wide variety of topics for parents and the community.
- Children are taught to appreciate and take responsibility for the environment.
- We liaise with local schools and support groups for many things including sporting events and moderation of work.
- Many curriculum areas provide opportunities to:
- Listen and talk to each other.
- Learn an awareness of treating all as equals.
- Agree and disagree.
- Take turns and share equipment.
- Work cooperatively and collaboratively.
Visitors are Welcomed into School.
Links with the Church are fostered through links with the local churches and the Diocesan Board of Education.
The development of a strong home-school link is regarded as very important, enabling parents and teachers to work in an effective partnership to support the pupil.
Pupils will be taught to appreciate their local environment and to develop a sense of responsibility to it.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Provision for SMSC is monitored and reviewed on a regular basis.
This is achieved by:
- Curriculum Coordinators identify aspects within their subjects to be included in teacher planning. Coordinators monitor teacher plans and their evaluations and assessments.
- Coordinators will monitor resource provision, identifying shortfalls.
- The Head Teacher shall have oversight of this policy and monitor the provision of SMSC.
RE Policy Version 9 Autumn 2017
