RE

Curriculum Intent

Religious education enables children to investigate and reflect on some of the most fundamental questions asked by people. At Gateway Academy we develop the children’s knowledge and understanding of the major world faiths, and we address the fundamental questions in life. We enable children to develop a sound knowledge of world religions, especially those that are the main faiths of children within our school. Children reflect on what it means to have a faith and to develop their own spiritual knowledge and understanding. We help the children learn from religions as well as about religions.

We want children to:

• develop an awareness of spiritual and moral issues in life experiences
• develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other major world religions and value systems found in Britain
• develop an understanding of what it means to be committed to a religious tradition
• be able to reflect on their own experiences and to develop a personal response to the fundamental questions of life
• develop an understanding of religious traditions and to appreciate the cultural differences in Britain today
• develop investigative and research skills and to enable them to make reasoned judgements about religious issues
• have respect for other peoples’ views and to celebrate the diversity in society

The Curriculum

Our school curriculum for religious education meets the requirements of the 1988 Education Reform Act (ERA). The ERA stipulates that religious education is compulsory for all children. Parents do have the right to withdraw their children from RE lessons. Should any parent wish to exercise this right they are asked to speak to Ms Lochner, the Headteacher.

At Gateway, RE is taught within the framework of the Westminster Agreed Syllabus. The requirements set out in this syllabus indicate that a minimum of 5% of curriculum time should be used for teaching RE. This amounts to 45 minutes each week in Key Stages 1 and 2.  

Children study “Big Questions” within religious faiths and also compare the religious views of different faith groups on topics such as rites of passage or festivals. Children have opportunities to discuss religious and moral issues amongst themselves as well as with visitors, use computers (working individually or in groups) and are given the opportunity to prepare presentations and share these with other members of the school in assemblies.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

For children in the Foundation Stage, RE teaching is integrated in the Early Learning Goal relating to Knowledge and Understanding about the World.  Children learn about basic themes such as celebration, new life and family and explore these concepts within different religions, primarily through storytelling and class discussion.

Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2)

In Key Stage 1, RE is taught distinctly on a weekly basis. Children learn about concepts such as ‘change’, ‘specialness’, ‘belonging’, and ‘ritual’, by considering their own experiences of these themes and then relating these ideas to religious contexts.  For example, in Year 1 children learn about special people in their lives and then relate this to special figures in different religions. Christianity and Judaism are the main religions taught within this Key Stage. 

Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6)

In Key Stage 2, RE lessons are also taught weekly. The main religions taught within Key Stage 2 are Islam, Christianity and Hinduism.  Children learn about religious concepts in more detail using a range of teaching and learning strategies, such as brainstorming, drama and hot-seating, class discussion and debate, re-telling, sequencing and ordering pictures and extended writing activities. Links are made with the learning across many curriculum areas, particularly Literacy, History, PSHCE and ICT.

The curriculum overview for the school is as follows:

Recent Projects

Year 5 trip to Neasden Temple

This week pupils from Year 5 visited the largest Hindu Mandir outside of India. Neasden Temple is located near Wembley Football Stadium and was opened in 1995. The children were given a guided tour of one of the most stunning religious buildings in London.