Intent, Implementation and Impact of our Curriculum-Religious Education
Intent:
At Hanslope Primary School, we believe that it is important for the children to make links between ‘believing,’ ‘behaving’ and ‘belonging’ to a religion. By reflecting and responding to their learning, we feel that the children will make important connections to the world around them. In our Religious education primary curriculum, religious education should help children explore the rich diversity of religions and worldviews in ways that spark curiosity and build respect for others. It should encourage pupils to ask questions, make sense of different beliefs and practices, and begin to see how these shape people’s lives, communities, and cultures. Learning should also help children reflect on their own ideas and experiences, while developing an appreciation for the similarities and differences they encounter. By connecting stories, traditions, art, and celebrations to wider human questions, religious education in primary school lays the foundation for thoughtful, respectful, and informed engagement with the world around them. Our curriculum is designed to encourage imagination, independence, creativity, enquiry, debate and discussion.
Implementation:
The RE curriculum at Hanslope Primary School follows the Milton Keynes Locally Agreed Syllabuses for RE 2025 and uses, where possible the Oxford Diocese Scheme of work. Christianity is taught in every year group, with key concepts revisited. Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and the Buddhist religion are covered according to the syllabus with similarities and links the focus. Each year non-religious worldviews are also looked at spanning themes such as ‘what makes us different?’ and ‘what is community?’.
The total time for RE taught in the school:
In KS1 this will amount to approximately 36 hours per year.
In KS2 this will amount to approximately 45 hours per year.
RE is taught using an enquiry-based approach that is challenging and robust. Learning will be organised to encourage the development of attitudes such as self-awareness, respect for all, open-mindedness, appreciation and wonder, as well as providing opportunities to engage appropriately with British Values. All faiths and world views are treated respectfully, and opportunities will be made to engage in age-appropriate, meaningful discussion. Where possible pupils will encounter believers and visit places of worship. A variety of resources, styles, and techniques will be used as appropriate to enable all children to make progress in RE regardless of their starting points, ability or background.
Our children and staff have a range of religious beliefs and backgrounds. We value the religious beliefs of all members of the school community and hope that this will encourage individuals to share their experiences with others openly. All religions and their communities are treated with sensitivity and respect. We also value the links that are, and can be made between home, school and a faith community. We are extremely lucky that the vicar from our local church ‘St James the Great,’ visits us regularly. ‘The Bridgebuilder Trust’ leads regular assemblies to support our religious and values education. Faith visitors from a range of religious communities support the delivery of the received Religious Education curriculum when possible.
Impact:
The children at Hanslope Primary School enjoy learning about other religions and why people choose, or not choose to follow a religion. Through their Religious Education learning, the children are able to make links between their own lives and those of others in the community and in the wider world, developing an understanding of other people’s cultures and ways of life. As such, we believe Religious Education is invaluable to our pupils’ understanding of the world.
Subject Leader: Mrs Jenny Broughton