Religious Education (RE)

Children understanding, respecting, celebrating all faiths and beliefs, making links between them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Religious Education at MPS has the aim to enable children to explore and understand the values and beliefs that underpin people’s experiences and the way they live their lives. Children explore a range of religions and beliefs through systematic enquiry, making links between the experiences of others and their own. They analyse life’s big questions and issues of diversity, developing a respectful and positive attitude towards all religions and beliefs.

How we teach RE:  

 Living Difference syllabus develops pupils’ knowledge and understanding of all principal religions, religious traditions and world views.

Each lesson follows the Cycle of Enquiry and a key concept that is common to all religions and beliefs or others particular to some.

This approach to teaching has three important moments:

• an experiential moment, ensuring that the teaching always start with real and concrete experiences (Communicate and Apply steps);
• an intellectual moment, when children deepen and broaden their understanding (Enquire and Contextualise steps);
• and a moment of discernment, when children reflect about the value of what has been studied (Evaluate step).

At the end of the cycle, children are able to discern the value of these concepts in the lives of those living in the traditions studied, as well as for their own lives and communities.

Why do we learn RE?

“I think it is important to learn about other religions and have an idea of what it means to be good for others. I liked the story of the Good Samaritan because it teaches me how to be kind to people.” – Year 3

“I think it is important to learn about other people’s religions, so that you can respect people and not make them feel upset. I am a Christian and I liked learning about the Hinduism creation story.” – Year 2

“I think it is important to learn RE to have an insight about different perspectives; to understand what people believe. This helps you to respect them and make them feel comfortable, accepted and help when there’s any misunderstanding. I enjoyed learning about Islam because I am Muslim, so I had the opportunity to contribute to the lessons by sharing my own experience.” – Year 6

What do we love about RE at MPS?

 

“I also liked learning about how different religions have different creation stories. I think it is important to learn about other religions because you can understand other beliefs.”  - Year 2

“I liked learning about being a good neighbour. In school, I think being a good neighbour means being a good partner in class, sharing games and playing nicely together” – Year 3

“I like RE because we learn about different religions and cultures. We learn that people are different and it helps us understand their beliefs and the way they follow their gods. I enjoyed learning about Prahlad’s story (Hinduism). I learned that you should not think that you are all powerful and that you should be humble and kind, rather than selfish.” – Year 3

“I enjoyed learning about different religions and celebrations, like Eid and Christmas. I think sometimes you can’t be just into yourself and you need to learn about others, too, so that you can respect them. It helps the world to be a better place.” – Year 4

“We learned a lot in RE this year. We learned about different types of funerals and beliefs in the after-life. We also learn about the 5 K’s in Sikhism. I don’t follow any religions, but I think it is important to learn about other people’s beliefs not to upset them. There are many ways you can live a good life.” – Year 5

 

Cycles of Enquiry (CoE) 

 Autumn 1

• CoE Year 1 Autumn Harvest
• CoE Year 2 Autumn 1 Light as a Symbol
• CoE Year 3 Autumn 1 Ritual Sukkot
• CoE Year 4 Autumn 1 Rites of Passage
• CoE Year 5 Autumn 1 Community Sikhism
• CoE Year 6 Autumn 1 Dukkha

 

 Autumn 2

• CoE Year 1 Autumn 2 Nativity Journey s end
• CoE Year 2 Autumn 2 Water rituals
• CoE Year 3 Autumn 2 Stories with messages
• CoE Year 4 Autumn 2 Imagery
• CoE Year 5 Autumn 2 Wisdom Sacred Books
• CoE Year 6 Autumn 2 Forgiveness

 

 Spring 1

• CoE Year 1 Spring 1 Belonging Judaism
• CoE Year 2 Spring 1 Remembering Vishnu Holi
• COE Year 3 Spring 1 Wisdom Guru Nanak
• CoE Year 4 Spring 1 Belief A good life
• CoE Year 5 Spring 1 Enlightenment
• CoE Year 6 Spring 1 Sacrifice

 

 Spring 2

• CoE Year 1 Spring 2 Remembering Passover
• CoE Year 2 Spring 2 Belief Easter
• CoE Year 3 Spring 2 Good and Evil
• CoE Year 4 Spring 2 Signs and Symbols
• CoE Year 5 Spring 1 Justice
• CoE Year 6 Spring 2 Belonging

 

Summer 1

• CoE Year 1 Summer 1 Specialness Places of Worship
• CoE Year 2 Summer 1 Specialness food
• CoE Year 3 Summer 1 Neighbour
• CoE Year 4 Summer 1 Rituals
• CoE Year 5 Summer 1 Death Ceremonies
• CoE Year 6 Summer 1 Power

 

 Summer 2

• CoE Year 1 Summer 2 Authority
• CoE Year 2 Summer 2 Creation stories
• CoE Year 3 Summer 2 Sacred Texts
• CoE Year 4 Summer 1 Ideas about God
• CoE Year 5 Summer 2 Pilgrimage
• CoE Year 6 Summer 2 Avatar