Religious Education
Intent:
The principal aim of Religious Education (RE) is to explore what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that learners can gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by studying religion and worldviews, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living.
Implementation:
RE at Springfield Primary School is taught from the Bedfordshire Agreed Syllabus. Each module is based on a key question. There are 3 main strands to our RE teaching: making sense of belief, making connections and understanding the impact.
Learners study in depth the following religious traditions:
- EYFS: Learners encounter Christianity and other faiths as part of their learning and sense of self, community and their place within it;
- Key Stage 1: Christianity and Islam/Judaism;
- Key Stage 2: Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.
Enquiry is at the heart of our RE curriculum to ensure engagement and progression. Enquiry lessons involve: probing and puzzling questions, mysteries and analysing problems. Where possible visitors will be used and visits to local places of worship.
Impact:
- Springfield citizens identify and interpret the core beliefs and ideas people have (both about faith and not about faith), and understand their meaning and use within different traditions.
- Springfield citizens understand and appreciate how people show their beliefs and live their lives in different ways at home, in their community and around the world.
- Springfield citizens reflect on and challenge the ideas they have learned, connecting them to their own lives and thinking.
Parental Right to Withdraw their Child from Religious Education (RE)
The right of parents to withdraw their child from Religious Education (RE) lessons is set out in section 71(1) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.
A parent of a learner at an academy can request that their child is wholly or partly excused from:
- receiving RE given in the school in accordance with the school’s basic curriculum;
- attendance at religious worship in the school.
Parents, who withdraw their child from all or part of the school’s RE curriculum, do not have to provide a reason. The school must comply with their request; although, a school should ensure parents or carers are informed of this right and are aware of the educational objectives and content of the RE syllabus. If learners are withdrawn from RE, schools have a duty to supervise them, though not to provide additional teaching or to incur extra cost. Learners will usually remain on school premises. Parents are not permitted to supervise their child during these lessons. The rules that apply to withdrawing learners from RE lessons do not apply to other lessons that look at religion. Therefore, a learner cannot be withdrawn from any National Curriculum subject, even if they teach about religion, other than RE or some aspects of sex and relationship education (RSE).
If you think you would like to discuss withdrawing your child from RE lessons, please contact the school, for the attention of Miss Collin (Deputy Headteacher).