RE

Expectations and aims for RE

At Lavender, we aim to teach children to be compassionate, respectful, open-minded human beings. Our core values of honesty, care, respect, responsibility, determination and appreciation underpin our entire curriculum, and Religious Education is no different. We strive to reflect Lavender’s diversity and community in our RE teaching, providing our children with a broad awareness and knowledge of the cultures and religious identities which surround them.

The principal aim of RE is to engage pupils in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religion and worldviews address, so that they can develop the understanding and skills needed to appreciate and appraise varied responses to these questions, as well as develop responses of their own. We follow the Enfield SACRE Agreed Syllabus, which was new for September 2023. The religions covered include Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Hinduism - the 4 most populous religions in Enfield. We also explore some non-religious views such as Humanism. By understanding a range of worldviews, the children will be able to recognise the diversity which exists within and between communities and appreciate different perspectives. We aim to enable them to express their ideas and reflections about a broad range of teachings including those of identity, values and ethics in order to interact with the wider world with knowledge and understanding.

How do we teach RE?

Across each academic year, RE is taught in 3 blocks, with each block covering a Big Idea or strand. These Big Ideas are Believing, Expressing and Living. Children will begin each topic with a Big Question, which is examined in new ways every lesson enabling them to answer the question by the end of the topic. Alongside this, skills of asking and answering questions, making comparisons, debate and reflection are always being developed. In EYFS and our SEND unit, RE knowledge and skills are taught through play and experiences relating to the local community and special festivals particularly. In Key Stage 1, the children are taught about Christianity, Islam and Judaism and explore a range of key questions relating to topics such as sacred places and caring for the world. Across Key Stage 2, children will learn about Hinduism and non-religious worldviews as well as furthering their knowledge of Christianity, Islam and Judaism.