“Different religions meet the needs of different people” Dalai Lama  
 
“Every child, if they learn a little about all different religions, even a couple of pages from each one, then they will know that we live in a very diverse world, and we should honor, love and appreciate these differences.” Gurudev Sri Ravi Shankar 
 
“We can and should investigate and learn from the wisdom in others religions.” Peter Kreeft  
 
“The need of the moment is not one religion but mutual respect and tolerance of the devotees of the different religions.” Ghandi  
 

What we believe:  

At Hayton C of E Primary School, we believe that Religious Education has the potential to have a powerful and everlasting effect on the child’s heart and mind, helping children flourish into inquisitive, accepting and respectful members of the worldwide community.  
 
“No other aspect of school life can ensure better than RE that school is experienced by staff and students alike not as a fact factory but as a laboratory for learning the values and virtues, attitudes and aptitudes which make for the wholeness of body, mind and spirit,” (Saxbee 2013) 

Our RE curriculum is designed to embody our school values and our ‘Curriculum Compass’ that underpin our learning throughout the school. 

Knowledge is our North - A knowledge-rich curriculum 

“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” Kofi Annan 
 
“Knowledge is love and light and vision.” Helen Keller 
 
“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise… 
 But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.” Charles Spurgeon 
 
As a Church of England School,our RE curriculum enables pupils to acquire a rich, deep knowledge of Christian belief and practice. Pupils engage with biblical texts and the theological ideas which underpin Christianity. By embracing the explicit teaching of Christian concepts and God’s big salvation story, it is hoped that the content of our curriculum will give pupils a deeper understanding of Christianity. In addition, pupils explore all major world faiths for at least 30% of the content taught in order to develop knowledge on our quest to discover more about religion, worldviews and themselves.  
 
We aim to help pupils to understand the role of foundational texts, beliefs, rituals, and practices and how they help form identity in a range of religions and worldviews. 

Skills are our South - Understanding our place in the world 

To understand their place in the world, our children will experience stories, celebrations, artefacts and events within both Christianity and other faith communities. Children will start reflecting on their place in the world in terms of where they belong. In Early Years they will start small and concentrate on their immediate family and carers. As they progress through school, they will begin to think about how they belong to school, the local community, county- wide community and eventually, in the world. 
 
In RE pupils need general skills such as gathering information, expressing ideas or evaluation sources.  There are some skills that RE particularly needs to develop and use.  These skills include to: investigate/ enquire, express, interpret, reflect, empathise, apply, analyse, synthesis and evaluate. As pupils progress in developing these skills, they will be increasingly able to understand the characteristics of each religion, and the similarities and differences between religions. 

Excellence is our East - Aspiring to achieve 

RE is meaningful in any society where beliefs and values are important; it is about getting pupils to engage with the big questions of life. Children understand that the knowledge and skills they acquire in RE lessons will lead them to successful careers which involve working collaboratively with others. 

Worldliness is our West - Broadening horizons 

RE is an important part of cultivating a child’s self-expression. Children are encouraged to reflect on themselves, their beliefs and to compare these to the beliefs of others. Children learn how religion influences individuals, families, communities and cultures. They will explore the political and social impact of religion and reflect on issues of justice and truth, all while developing and affirming personal identity and responsible citizenship. 
 
RE prepares children for citizenship in today’s diverse society. It enables them to develop sensitivity to, and respect for others. Through authentic encounters with living faith communities, pupils will develop diversity dexterity and be equipped with the ability to hold an informed conversation about religious beliefs and practices. 

The aims of Religious Education in Church Schools are:  

• To know about and understand Christianity as a diverse global living faith through the exploration of core beliefs using an approach that critically engages with biblical text.  
• To gain knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and worldviews appreciating diversity, continuity and change within the religions and worldviews being studied.  
• To engage with challenging questions of meaning and purpose raised by human existence and experience.  
• To recognise the concept of religion and its continuing influence on Britain’s cultural heritage and in the lives of individuals and societies in different times, cultures and places.  
• To explore their own religious, spiritual and philosophical ways living, believing and thinking.  
• RE Statement of Entitlement: The Church of England Education Office 2019 

How do we do it? 

Long Term Planning - RE

Curriculum  

The teaching and implementation of the R.E. curriculum at Hayton C of E Primary School is based on the Blackburn Diocese ‘Questful RE’ scheme of work which is recommended and ratified by the Carlisle Diocese Board of Education. The curriculum content is a balance of exploring what people of faith believe alongside exploring questions and answers raised in relation to the lived reality and the impact of religion and world views on people’s lives. Pupils will think like philosophers and be equipped with the skills that will enable them to make sense of life’s experiences.  
 
The curriculum has been developed to allow children to encounter religions within our community and wider world. We believe that good quality RE is an essential key for our children in understanding others’ beliefs and making connections between their own values. We want pupils to have meaningful conversations where they can discuss, challenge and share their knowledge and opinions.  
 
Our RE is driven by key questions, big ideas and the understanding that all of our learning is linked through experience, conversations and connections. 

How do we know we have had an impact?  

The children at Hayton Church of England Primary School enjoy learning about other religions and why people choose to follow a religion. Through their R.E. learning, the children are able to make links between their own lives and those of others in their community and in the wider world. Through R.E. our children are developing an understanding of other people’s cultures and ways of life and worship, which they are then able to communicate to the wider community.  As a result, children show high levels of self-awareness and model respect and empathy for others. 
 
Our children will achieve age related expectations or better in RE at the end of their cohort year demonstrating the required skills of their year group curriculum. Pupils will use acquired vocabulary in lessons across other aspects of the school day and school life. Through discussion and feedback, children will talk enthusiastically about their R.E. lessons and other faith days.