Religion and Other World Views
Curriculum
At Darrington CE Primary School, the RE Curriculum follows the Wakefield Locally Agreed Syllabus .To deepen our pupils thinking, we use Understanding Christianity to 'dig deeper' into RE themes.
Religious Education has a high profile in school and is led by our experienced RE subject leader. The RE curriculum provides valuable opportunities where pupils are encouraged to explore their own beliefs and the beliefs of others. The aim of teaching religious education in our church school is to develop knowledge that some people have a Christian faith that they value and by which they choose to live.
Christian values are central to the ethos of our school and as such are reflected in the main themes on which our religious education teaching is based. Christian beliefs and values are central to the syllabus. A knowledge of and respect for other world faiths, specifically related to our predominant local faith groups, is also included. We foster skills such as co-operation, tolerance and understanding of others and a respect for differences.
Curriculum enhancements such as educational visits to places of worship, mock weddings and baptisms, all serve to engage and excite our young learners.
We take part annually and contribute to the NATRE Spirited Arts competition which we are very proud of. Our pupils produce thought-provoking and stimulating art work, which asks big questions such as ‘Where is God?’
Teaching, learning and assessment in RE is based around learning about and learning from religion. We have close links with St Luke & All Saints Church and other places of worship, e.g. Wakefield Cathedral, and Jamia Masjid Swafia Mosque which help to provide first hand learning experiences.
Parents have the right to request that their child be excused Religious Education and withdrawn from the act of worship.
Assessment
Within RE, we have developed a range of assessment strategies that are used across school. The purpose of assessment in RE is to ensure that pupils improve what they know, understand and can do regarding the different aspects of RE they are learning about.
We have developed a range of assessment grids containing ‘I can’ statements linked to the outcomes for each unit taught. Staff are regularly monitoring and assessing children throughout each unit and record whether the children are working towards, at standard or greater depth at the end of each unit.
Pupils’ work and thoughts are recorded each lesson either in the class big book or in individual RE books.
Spirited Art work gives pupils the opportunity to think deeply and teachers are able to assess what pupils have learned from reflections shared.
Discussions with pupils and feedback measures the impact RE has on individuals and will inform future planning. Opportunities for daily reflections in Candle Time also allows teachers to gain an insight into pupils’ understanding of RE taught.