RE

Curriculum Intent

At Gateway Academy, Religious Education (RE) helps children to understand the diverse religious and non-religious worldviews that shape people's lives, communities and cultures.

Our RE curriculum encourages children to ask thoughtful questions about belief, meaning, identity, belonging and how people choose to live. Through learning about Christianity and a range of other religious traditions and worldviews, children develop secure knowledge while learning to listen to, discuss and reflect on different perspectives.

Gateway is a diverse school community and we value the knowledge, experiences and perspectives that our children and families bring. RE provides opportunities for children to recognise similarities and differences, challenge misconceptions and develop respect for people whose beliefs and ways of life may be different from their own.

We want children to:

develop secure knowledge and understanding of Christianity and a range of other religions and non-religious worldviews;
understand how beliefs can influence people's lives, choices, practices and communities;
develop an increasingly rich religious and philosophical vocabulary;
ask questions and investigate important concepts such as belonging, identity, justice, authority, sacrifice and peace;
make connections between different beliefs, practices and ways of living;
consider different viewpoints and develop reasoned responses;
reflect on their own ideas and experiences without being expected to adopt any particular religious belief or worldview; and
develop curiosity, respect and an appreciation of the diversity of our local community and wider society.

The Curriculum

Religious Education is a statutory part of the curriculum. At Gateway Academy, we follow the Westminster Locally Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education: Living Difference IV, adopted by Westminster from September 2024.

Living Difference IV uses an enquiry-led approach to RE. Children encounter and investigate important concepts, explore how these are understood within different religious and non-religious worldviews, and consider how they relate to people's lives.

As children move through the school, they revisit important ideas with increasing depth and complexity. This enables them to build on previous learning rather than encountering religions as a series of disconnected topics.

Our curriculum reflects the fact that religious traditions in Great Britain are principally Christian while also taking account of the other major religious traditions and non-religious worldviews represented in Britain. It is particularly important to us that our curriculum also reflects the rich diversity of the Gateway community and the city in which our children live.

Children learn about religious and non-religious worldviews; RE is not religious instruction and does not seek to promote a particular faith or belief.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In the EYFS, children begin to encounter religious and non-religious worldviews through developmentally appropriate experiences, stories, discussion, celebrations, objects, places and the experiences of families within our community.

RE makes connections particularly with children's learning within Understanding the World, including opportunities to recognise that people have different beliefs and celebrate special times in different ways.

Children explore concepts that are meaningful in their own lives, such as family, belonging, celebration, special places and new life. Adults encourage children to talk about their experiences, listen to others and begin to notice similarities and differences between themselves, their families and other people.

Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2)

In Years 1 and 2, children build their knowledge through carefully sequenced RE lessons.

They explore concepts such as belonging, celebration, special places, stories, symbols, rituals, creation and stewardship. Children begin with ideas they can relate to before exploring how these concepts are understood and expressed within religious traditions and other worldviews.

Children develop their ability to recall important knowledge, use appropriate vocabulary, ask questions and make simple connections between beliefs and practices.

Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6)

Across Years 3 to 6, children's knowledge and understanding become increasingly detailed and connected.

They encounter a wider range of religious and non-religious worldviews and investigate increasingly complex concepts such as identity, devotion, interpretation, sacrifice, rites of passage, enlightenment, justice, authority, good and evil, resurrection and peace.

Children are expected increasingly to explain connections between beliefs, practices and ways of living; compare different perspectives; use evidence from their learning; and develop thoughtful, reasoned responses to religious, philosophical and ethical questions.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Where appropriate, RE is enriched through visits, visitors and first-hand experiences. Being located in London gives our children valuable opportunities to encounter places of worship and communities representing a wide range of religious traditions and worldviews.

These experiences help children connect classroom learning with lived religion and belief and deepen their understanding of the diverse community in which they live.

Right of Withdrawal

Parents and carers have the legal right to withdraw their child from all or part of Religious Education.

We encourage any parent or carer considering withdrawal to speak with one of the Co-Headteachers so that we can discuss the RE curriculum, the nature of the lessons concerned and the arrangements that would be made.

Requests for withdrawal should be made to the Academy in writing.

Recent Projects

Year 5 trip to Neasden Temple

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.