Aims of Study
A broad and balanced programme of RE will reflect three key areas. First, it will include a study of the key beliefs and practices of religions and other world views, including those represented in West Yorkshire. Secondly, it will provide opportunities to explore key religious concepts and common
human questions of meaning, purpose and value, often called ‘ultimate’ questions. Thirdly, it will enable pupils to investigate how beliefs affect moral decisions and identity, exploring both diversity and shared human values. These three areas together will nurture pupils’ religious literacy and may be called phenomenology, philosophy and ethics. They are reflected in the aims here.
All pupils are required to:
- Investigate the beliefs and practices of religions and other world views - Investigate how religions and other world views influence morality, identity and diversity
- Investigate how religions and other world views address questions of meaning, purpose and value.
Religious Education Curriculum Intent
Our school ethos is at the heart of all we do; we want our children to be motivated to learn, to persevere and to recognise their own successes in a variety of contexts (M+P=S). Our RE curriculum is designed to help pupils to develop as tolerant young people with respect and understanding of the views of others, including the beliefs and practices of religions and other world views.
Our Methley Magic Five: motivation, perseverance, respect, communication and collaboration.
Motivation
We believe the children should be proud of their own heritage and culture but also have an understanding of the diversity of the wider area in which they live, as well as accepting, tolerating, celebrating and having mutual respect for different religions, cultures and other world views.
We offer a nurturing learning environment in which each child is encouraged to develop their full potential and where their achievements and successes are celebrated and rewarded.
Perseverance
In RE, we encourage positive self-talk during class discussions and promote reflection when facing challenges. Our curriculum gives opportunity for children to gain a good understanding of religions and other world views in a safe, nurturing environment that also challenges stereotypes. We praise effort and learning processes; we put failures and mistakes into a growth perspective, understanding that FAIL = First Attempt In Learning; and we give our pupils problems to solve which need effective discussion.
Success
Through the study of RE, our pupils will gain a greater understanding of the identity and diversity of their local community and beyond. They will grow up to live and work as active, purposeful citizens of Leeds alongside people of all beliefs and cultures, and be challenged to reflect on difficult questions. We believe these are essential skills with which to equip our pupils for adult life and lifelong learning.
Religious Education Curriculum Implementation
At Methley Primary School, we follow the locally agreed syllabus, which includes investigating the beliefs and practices of religions and other world views, investigating how religions and other world views address questions of meaning, purpose and value, as well as investigating how religions and other world views influence morality, identity and diversity. We give children an opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of the religious practices and beliefs of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Through this curriculum we provide a positive context within which the diversity of cultures, beliefs and values can be explored. The children are encouraged to reflect on their own developing beliefs and values and to be respectful of the beliefs and values of others through understanding their traditions and practices. Opportunities are given for children to question and suggest answers relating to their own religious practices and those of others. They will experience the study of religious and non-religious approaches to life that can help to equip the children to explore personal questions of meaning and to engage with the profound issues and contemporary questions that face our communities now and in the future.
