Religious Education

Aims

The RE curriculum at Eastwick meets the requirements of the National Curriculum, the Surrey Agreed Syllabus 2023-2028 and the school’s Curriculum Ethos. Therefore, it prepares children to be ‘Ready for Everything’ in their futures in terms of:

Success in the next stage of their education and beyond: by demonstrating an appreciation of the nature of religion and belief; developing knowledge and understanding of Christianity the other principal religions and beliefs represented in the UK, both through their history and their contemporary diverse expressions
their ability to navigate life’s personal Challenge: by appreciating the important contribution of religious, non-religious and spiritual insights and values to the individual’s search for meaning in life, therefore enhancing their own spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
understanding their place in communities at global, national and local levels and seize the Opportunity of the future: by developing the ability to make reasoned, informed, inclusive and creative responses to religious and moral issues; recognising the influence of worldviews, beliefs, values and traditions on the individual, on culture and on communities throughout the world

Teaching

In Reception, pupils are taught elements of religious education that prepare them for the Year 1 curriculum.
Our curriculum in Years 1-6 uses units from the Surrey Agreed Syllabus 2023-28.
Knowledge is built progressively throughout Key Stage 1 and 2. Pupils revisit the key knowledge themes (see below) on a cyclical basis. Each time a key knowledge theme is revisited, a different aspect is covered, therefore increasing children’s depth of knowledge. Prior knowledge is recalled and utilised so that pupils build on previous foundations.

Key Knowledge Themes:

Christianity

Judaism

Islam

Sikhism

Humanism

Hinduism

Buddhism

Units taught (Years 1-6):

Year 1	CHRISTIANITY: Why do Christians call God ‘creator’?	CHRISTIANITY: What is the ‘Nativity’ and why is it important to Christians?	CHRISTIANITY: What do Christians learn from stories of Jesus?	JUDAISM: What is the Torah & why is it so important to Jewish families?	JUDAISM: Why do Jewish families celebrate the gift of Shabbat?	THEMATIC: Why do people tell stories?
Year 2	CHRISTIANITY: What is God like for Christians?	CHRISTIANITY: Why is giving important to Christians?	CHRISTIANITY: Why do Christians call Jesus ‘Saviour’?	ISLAM: Who is Allah and how do Muslims worship him?	ISLAM: What is important for Muslim families?	THEMATIC: Why should we look after the world?
Year 3	CHRISTIANITY: What’s the Bible’s ‘big story’ – and why is it like treasure for Christians?	CHRISTIANITY: How can artists help us to understand what Christians believe and do?	CHRISTIANITY: How did Jesus change lives – and how is it ‘good news?’	JUDAISM: What are important times for Jewish people?	SIKHISM: What do Sikhs value?	THEMATIC: How do people try to make the world a fairer place?
Year 4	CHRISTIANITY: What did God promise to his people?	CHRISTIANITY: What did Jesus say about God’s kingdom & why is it ‘good news’?	CHRISTIANITY: For Christians, is communion a celebration, or an act of remembrance?	ISLAM: How does ‘ibadah’ (worship) show what’s important to Muslims?	HUMANISM: How do non-religious people celebrate new life?	THEMATIC: Why do people make promises?
Year 5	CHRISTIANITY: What do Christians believe about creation?	CHRISTIANITY: How did the Church begin, and where is it now?	CHRISTIANITY: Why is the idea of ‘rescue’ so important to Christians?	HINDU (SANATAN) DHARMA: What helps Hindus to worship?	HINDU (SANATAN) DHARMA: Why should Hindus live a good life?	THEMATIC: Is life a journey?
Year 6	CHRISTIANITY: How is God Three – and yet One?	CHRISTIANITY: What do Christians believe about the Messiah – and why is it good news?	CHRISTIANITY: For Christians, what difference does it make to belong to God’s Kingdom?	BUDDHISM: What is the ‘Buddhist way of life’?	ISLAM: What helps Muslims to live a good life?	THEMATIC: Who am I and where do I belong?

Eastwick Schools