Religious Education Curriculum
The aim of Religious Education at St. Mary's is to offer a firm grounding in the principles and practices of Christianity, as represented by the Church of England. In recognition of the society in which all children are growing up, pupils are offered opportunities to explore other faiths as represented by Britain today.
The school and church, working in a close partnership have created a deeply Christian community where all, children and adults alike, feel valued and supported. Pupils enjoy religious education and talk enthusiastically about how the subject challenges and inspires them. Excellent leadership over time has enabled the school, through its links with the church, to become the heart of a Christian community where all are valued and supported and where, as a parent commented, pupils develop ‘love for each other, their school and the environment’
SIAMS Report (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools), 2019
Intent
At St Mary’s Greenfield the aim of Religious Education is to help all children to acquire and develop their knowledge and understanding of Christianity as well as the other principal religions represented in Great Britain; to appreciate the way that religious beliefs shape life and our behaviour, develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues and enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. RE is an integral part of the school’s Christian ethos and is incorporated into the whole school curriculum. Our RE curriculum plays a major part in promoting the Christian aims, values and ethos of the school. It is at the heart of our school and is expressed through attitudes, relationships, values, visual symbols and Christian observances of the school.
The school uses the Manchester Diocesan syllabus for RE, which develops knowledge, vocabulary and understanding of the Christian faith through progressive objectives and allows us to explore and appreciate other faiths, traditions and beliefs. As part of this, it follows a clear, sequenced curriculum where pupils revisit key concepts and practices outlined in the Diocese of Manchester syllabus to deepen children’s knowledge and understanding whilst supporting their ability to retrieve. From Year 1 to Year 6, children spend one hour a week learning Religious Education and in EYFS they do one half an hour session per week which incorporates practical continuous provision elements. Children are prepared to be able consider any questions which are raised by religion and belief whilst acknowledging their own developing ideas and beliefs. In line with the requirements of the Education Reform Act, our children take part in a daily collective worship. This is based around our half termly Christian Value and include daily acts of prayer, worship within school and reflection upon the yearly cycle of Christian festivals and seasons. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from the teaching of Religious Education and class teacher will ensure that any children who are withdrawn will be properly supervised and purposefully occupied. The balance of time allocated to Christianity is 50% and then 50% to other world faiths. As recommended by the Diocese, Judaism, Islam and Hinduism are the non-Christian faiths that are studied in depth.
Reference is also made to other religions and also non-religious world views to promote inclusivity. Each class has a picture book that collects images or pupil voice from more practical based lessons to record children’s thoughts and ideas. Planning supports direct teaching, real experiences through visits and handling artefacts, dance, drama, singing, discussion and art opportunities. The use of Greenfield St Mary’s Church, clergy and congregation are used where possible to aid teaching and learning in RE. We also use Ground Breakers to deliver assemblies who play a significant understanding of biblical stories and their key messages in a creative way.
Aims
Our broad aim for RE is that the children should be taught and subsequently understand the practices and teachings of Christianity. We encourage children to develop their own Christian beliefs and values. The principle aim for RE at St. Mary’s Greenfield is to aid the children on their spiritual journey. We aim to live out the Christian values in our school. We aim to enable pupils to have an informed conversation about religious beliefs and practices of different world religions and faiths.
- Pupils should develop understanding of concepts and mastery of skills to make sense of religion and belief, at an appropriate level of challenge for their age.
- RE should provide opportunities for pupils to develop positive attitudes and values and to reflect and relate their learning in RE to
their own experience. - Building on the statutory requirements, it is recommended that there should be a wide-ranging study of religion and belief across the key stages as a whole.
- Not all religions need to be studied at the same depth or in each key stage, but all that are studied should be studied in a way that is coherent and promotes progression.
- Pupils should have the opportunity to learn that there are those who do not hold religious beliefs and have their own philosophical perspectives, and subject matter should facilitate integration and promotion of shared values.
- The study of religion should be based on the legal requirements and provide an appropriate balance between and within
Christianity, other principal religions, and, where appropriate other religious traditions and world views, across the key stages as a whole, making appropriate links with other parts of the curriculum and its cross-curricular dimensions.
Implementation
Religious Education is inclusive for all children taught throughout the school following the Manchester Diocese Syllabus and reflections the overall aims, values and philosophy of the school.
As a Church of England Aided Primary School that is part of the Manchester Diocese we use the Manchester Diocese materials and Understanding Christianity scheme. The key focus’ are making sense of the text, understanding the impact and making connections.
Impact
Children will be able to make sense of a range of religious and non-religious beliefs, so that they can:
- identify, describe, explain and analyse beliefs and concepts in the context of living religions, using appropriate vocabulary;
- explain how and why these beliefs are understood in different ways, by individuals and within communities;
- recognise how and why sources of authority like religious text, traditions and leaders are used, expressed and interpreted in different ways.
Understand the impact and significance of religious and non-religious beliefs, so that they can:
- examine and explain how and why people express their beliefs in diverse ways;
- recognise and account for ways in which people put their beliefs into action in diverse ways, in their everyday lives, within their communities and in the wider world;
- appreciate the significance of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning; make connections between religious and non-religious beliefs, practices and ideas.
Pupils gain the knowledge, skills and understanding of religious beliefs and practices and show respect for different values and traditions in world faiths.
Planning
Religious Education is planned for on a long term, medium term and short term basis. School has a scheme of work for Religious Education which focuses on knowledge, skills and vocabulary associated with the five main world religions. From Reception to Year 6, there is progression within the subject scheme and children are encouraged to be challenged and learn through an enquiry-based approach.
As a faith school, we incorporate regular visits to church as well as school visits to places of worship to enhance our knowledge. We are inclusive of all religions and we incorporated all religious festivals and celebrations into our school calendar. Staff plan in a cross-curricular way. Each year group has essential units of work which include the Christian festivals of Christmas and Easter and additional units. We use the RE Syllabus 2023 from the Manchester Diocese and each class teaches a half-termly unit of work from the syllabus complimented by the Understanding Christianity scheme.
Progression
By the end of each key stage, pupils are expected to know, apply and understand the concepts, skills and processes specified in the RE Syllabus 2023. This clear, sequenced curriculum revisits key concepts and practices to deepen children’s knowledge and understanding whilst supporting their ability to retrieve and retain.
Cross Curricular
Units of work are enhanced by visits in Key Stage 1 to St Mary’s Church and in Key Stage 2 to Greenfield Methodist Church (Year 3), Fairfield Moravian Settlement (Year 4), Greengate Street Mosque (Year 5) and Heaton park Synagogue (Year 6). Planning supports direct teaching of real experiences through visits and handling artefacts, dance, drama, singing, discussion and art opportunities.
Resources
The Lion Bible is used in EYFS and KS1 and the International Children’s Bible is used in KS2. School has a large number of RE books and artefact boxes for Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Video clips are used to enhance teaching through the BBC Religions of the World for Key Stage 1 and My Life My Religion series for Key Stage 2. An audit of the RE resources is conducted annually by the Art Subject Leader who consults staff before ordering new equipment and resources.
Displays
Displays are used as a celebration of the children’s work and may include photos. Sometimes displays will be used as a working knowledge wall.
Each class has a display board in the classroom or in the corridor where learning from half termly units of work is displayed to show unmistakable evidence of clear progression of skills, knowledge and confidence in Religious Education. Children in our school express themselves creatively and enjoy sharing their work with pride.
Monitoring
The Subject Leader for RE and the Link Governor monitor pupil books and conduct a learning walk. The RE Subject Leader attends RE training courses and the Headteacher attends the Diocesan Conference.
Pupil Voice
Through discussions, high-quality teaching and feedback, children talk enthusiastically about their art lessons and show genuine curiosity, interest and enjoyment in the areas they explored. Pupil Voice is gained following educational visits and Experience Days.
Evidence in Knowledge
Summative assessment takes place at the end of each unit of work. Teachers assess children’s learning in RE by making informal judgements as they observe them during lessons. Each class records whole class and group learning in a RE learning journey and in Early years Foundation Stage, in a floor book.
Evidence of Skills
Lesson plans identify the key skills for the session which include enquiry, synthesis, analysing, reflection, evaluating, applying and Interpreting.
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RE Agreed Syllabus for Oldham Schools 2020-2025 | [pdf 3MB] |
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RE and promoting key skills - Oldham SACRE Guidance | [pdf 58KB] |
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Inclusion issues and Religious Education in Oldham Guidance from SACRE | [pdf 142KB] |
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RE Curriculum Content List
Please download the document below.
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RE Curriculum Contents List | [pdf 119KB] |
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RE Syllabus 2023
Please see the document below.
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Manchester Anglican Diocese RE Syllabus 2023 FINAL | [pdf 1MB] |
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Collective Worship
During the week there is a daily act of collective worship and a variety of worship is undertaken across school. Themes are identified using a two year programme of Collective Worship. Records of the programme are held in the school office and are available to parents, on request, during school hours. The Headteacher and all teaching staff are responsible for leading worship and ‘The Groundbreakers Team’ from the Manchester Mission Project visit regularly. Members of St Mary’s Church and the Saddleworth Clergy Team also contribute to the worship life of the school each month. Reverend Barbara Christopher is an active member of our Governing Body, supporting the spiritual development of the school. Singing forms an important part of our worship Celebration Worship takes place each Friday and family members are welcome. The school encourages all families to join with us at our regular services at St Mary's Church when we celebrate special occasions such as Harvest, Advent, Christmas, Education Sunday, Easter, Ascension Day and End of School Year Service. Classes participate in presentations during these religious celebrations. Class assemblies to present and celebrate learning and also sporting achievement assemblies are held throughout the year. Provision for worship at St Mary's C E (A) Primary School, Greenfield is in accordance with Manchester Diocesan Policy.
Collective worship is valued by all members of the school community as a time to reflect on the school’s Christian values and to relate those to current events. Pupils respond positively to lively and varied acts of collective worship. Ofsted 2019
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Religious Education Policy 2024 | [pdf 367KB] |
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Spiritual Development Policy | [pdf 187KB] |
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Collective Worship Policy | [pdf 156KB] |
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Parents' Right of Withdrawal from Religious Education and Collective Worship
As a Church Aided school, provision is not made for withdrawal from the teaching of Religious Education. Any request for withdrawal must be made to the Governing Body. However, because much teaching is delivered through the thematic approach, withdrawal may have a detrimental effect on your child’s learning. We value the whole school community coming together in a daily act of collective worship and provision is not made for withdrawal from collective worship. Any request for withdrawal must be made to the Governing Body although withdrawal may have a negative effect on your child.
Religious Education Learning Resources
Please click on the links below to access our resources.