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? |