Intent

At LAPW, we believe that Religious Education (RE) plays a vital role in fostering internationally-minded learners who demonstrate respect, empathy, and understanding towards the diverse beliefs and worldviews of others.

We will encourage children to explore a range of religions and worldviews, fostering curiosity and critical thinking about their origins, key figures, sacred texts, rituals, and celebrations. This will enable them to recognise the richness and complexity of human spiritual and ethical expression. We will create a safe and inclusive learning environment where children can explore and discuss different beliefs openly and respectfully. By encouraging them to consider different perspectives and develop empathy, we aim to cultivate tolerance and understanding, challenging prejudice and discrimination. We will provide opportunities for children to reflect on their own values, beliefs, and experiences in relation to the concepts explored in RE. This will support their personal and social development, helping them to make sense of the world around them and develop their own sense of identity and belonging. We will integrate RE with other subject areas and explicitly link learning to the attributes of the IB Learner Profile. This will enable children to see the interconnectedness of knowledge and develop attributes such as open-mindedness, communicators, thinkers, and principled individuals.

Through the PYP framework, we will encourage children to ask questions, investigate, research, and analyse information about different religions and worldviews. This will empower them to become active and engaged learners who can form their own informed opinions based on evidence and understanding.

Ultimately, our intent in RE is to equip children with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to navigate a diverse and interconnected world with respect, understanding, and a commitment to peaceful coexistence. We aim to nurture their spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development, fostering responsible global citizens who appreciate the richness of human belief and the importance of interfaith understanding.

Implementation

At LAW, our RE curriculum is designed to be inquiry-based, concept-driven, and transdisciplinary, encouraging children to explore beliefs, values, and practices in a meaningful and engaging way.

Children actively inquire into different faiths, worldviews, and ethical systems through thought-provoking questions, research, discussions, and explorations. We encourage them to make connections, analyse perspectives, and form their own informed understandings. We will give children time to explore religious and non-religious beliefs in a broader context and make meaningful links to other areas of their learning. Where authentic and meaningful connections can be made, RE is integrated with other subject areas within the Units of Inquiry. This helps children to see the interconnectedness of knowledge and understand how beliefs and values influence various aspects of human experience.

Our RE curriculum develops children’s:

Knowledge and Understanding: Of the principal features and teachings of major world religions and non-religious worldviews present in our local and global community.
Skills: In critical thinking, empathy, communication, research, and reflection, enabling them to engage respectfully with diverse perspectives.

We actively promote the IB Learner Profile attributes, fostering attitudes such as open-mindedness, respect, empathy, and principled behaviour in relation to religious and non-religious beliefs. The content and activities are carefully planned to be age-appropriate and cater to the developmental stages of our children, building upon prior knowledge and experiences. We create a safe and inclusive learning environment where all children feel valued and respected, regardless of their own beliefs or backgrounds. We encourage open dialogue and critical reflection without promoting any particular religious viewpoint. We recognise the important role of parents/carers and the wider community in shaping the children’s understanding of beliefs and values. We seek opportunities for meaningful engagement and collaboration, where appropriate and respectful of individual privacy. Assessment in RE is ongoing and varied, focusing on children’s understanding, skills development, and ability to articulate their learning. We use a range of formative and summative assessment strategies aligned with PYP principles.

Our RE curriculum and its implementation are regularly reviewed and reflected upon to ensure its continued relevance, effectiveness, and alignment with the evolving needs of our children and the PYP framework.

Through this implementation of Religious Education, we aim to empower our children to become informed, compassionate, and responsible global citizens who can engage respectfully and thoughtfully with the diverse beliefs and values that shape our world.

Impact

Through RE at LAPW, children develop the capacity to understand and share the feelings of others by exploring different faith perspectives and worldviews. They learn to appreciate the richness and complexity of human experience beyond their own immediate context. By inquiring into the beliefs, rituals, and celebrations of various religions and non-religious worldviews, children gain a deeper understanding of different cultures and develop the skills necessary to interact respectfully and effectively in a diverse global society. RE provides a safe and supportive environment to critically examine stereotypes and misconceptions about different religious and belief groups, fostering a culture of tolerance and acceptance.

Our RE curriculum encourages children to grapple with fundamental questions about life, meaning, purpose, values, and ethics, fostering their critical thinking and philosophical inquiry skills. Through exploring different belief systems, children are encouraged to reflect on their own values and beliefs, contributing to their personal identity development and spiritual literacy. RE provides opportunities for children to analyse ethical dilemmas from different perspectives, developing their capacity for moral reasoning and responsible decision-making.

Understanding different religions and worldviews equips children with the knowledge and skills necessary to be informed and engaged global citizens who can contribute positively to a diverse and interconnected world. By fostering respect and empathy, RE helps children build bridges of understanding and communication across cultural and religious divides. Children learn about the significant role religion has played in shaping history, art, literature, and societal values, providing a broader context for their learning across the curriculum.

In conclusion, Religious Education within our academy is not merely about learning about different religions; it is a dynamic and essential element of our curriculum that cultivates compassionate, knowledgeable, and internationally-minded individuals who are prepared to engage with the complexities and diversity of the world with understanding and respect.

What we do at LAPW...

We believe in providing our children with real-world connections, which is why we maintain strong links with our local church, including regular weekly church assemblies that allow children to experience Christian worship and traditions firsthand. To further broaden perspectives, we are incredibly fortunate to welcome parent speakers who generously share insights into their own religious backgrounds, offering authentic and personal narratives. Our annual Languages Day is a vibrant celebration of global cultures, providing another avenue for understanding the rich tapestry of human experience, while special assemblies focused on various religious festivals throughout the year deepen our children's appreciation for different traditions. Finally, our dedicated Learning Support Assistants, also enrich our RE provision by sharing their own cultural and religious experiences, bringing learning to life with personal anecdotes, like insights into Diwali.

Parents have the right to withdraw their child from Religious Education lessons; please contact the school office if you wish to discuss this further.

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