The Curriculum
Religious Education
The teaching of Religious Education allows children both to learn about religious traditions and to reflect on what the religious ideas and concepts mean to them. Our teaching enables children to extend their own sense of values and promotes their spiritual growth and development. We encourage children to think about their own views and values in relation to the themes and topics studied in the Religious Education curriculum. The Religious Education curriculum forms an important part of our school's spiritual, moral and social teaching. It also promotes education for citizenship.
Children are encouraged to build on their own experiences and extend their knowledge and understanding of religious traditions. Strong links with St. Bartholomew's Church in the village enriches their experiences and helps to develop their religious thinking. Direct experience comes from organised visits to places of worship and visits from representatives of local religious groups who come into school and talk to the children.
We plan our Religious Education curriculum in accordance with Northamptonshire LA's Agreed Syllabus. In this agreed syllabus 'Growing Together' pupils develop an overall understanding of the6 principal religions in the UK. In the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1, children study Christianity and Judaism and in Key Stage 2 they study, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and Hinduism. We ensure that the topics studied in Religious Education build upon prior learning. We offer opportunities for children of all abilities to develop their skills and knowledge in each unit, and we ensure that the planned progression built into the scheme of work offers the children an increasing challenge as they move through the school.
In reception classes, Religious Education is an integral part of the topic work covered during the year. As the reception class is part of the Foundation Stage of the National Curriculum, we relate the Religious Education aspects of the children's work to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals, which underpin the curriculum planning for children aged three to five.
The Education Reform Act (1998) allows parents to withdraw their child from RE lessons if they so wish. This should only be done following written notice to the school governors.