Religious Education

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”

Dalai Lama

Impact

At Elmridge, Religion and Worldviews is a vital part of a broad and balanced curriculum which reflects Trafford SACRE guidance. The curriculum is designed to:

Develop religious literacy, enabling pupils to understand and engage with a range of religions and worldviews represented locally, nationally and globally.
Provide a balanced, multi-faith curriculum, with a focus on Christianity alongside other principal religions (e.g. Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Sikhism) and non-religious worldviews.
Support pupils in becoming respectful, open-minded citizens who can live well together in a diverse society.

The ability to understand how beliefs influence daily life, practices and moral decision-making is essential. Our pupils aim to recognise diversity within and between religions and worldviews with a clear progression across key stages. We aim to ensure that knowledge and concepts are revisited and deepened over time.

Our curriculum reflects our values of Challenge, Care and Collaboration by encouraging children to persevere, question deeply and work collaboratively when exploring Religion and Worldviews. Through high expectations and adaptive teaching, all pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, are supported to access and succeed within the curriculum.

Implementation

Religion and Worldviews at Elmridge are taught through the Kapow curriculum, which provides engaging, knowledge-rich learning experiences that build children’s understanding progressively over time. It is our aim to build both substantive knowledge (what pupils know about religions/worldviews) and disciplinary knowledge (how pupils think, enquire, interpret and evaluate beliefs). Our curriculum aims to ensure pupils can ask and explore meaningful questions about beliefs, values and identity. Alongside this is the development of critical thinking, empathy, respect and reflection.

The curriculum structure is a sequenced, enquiry-based curriculum, where each unit is driven by a key question (e.g. “What do Muslims believe about God?”). The coverage ensures that Christianity is studied in every Key Stage (as required) and other principal religions are studied in depth across phases. There is a clear progression in children’s knowledge, vocabulary and enquiry skills.

Teaching and learning approaches use the “learn about” and “learn from” model. Learn about focuses on beliefs, practices, texts and traditions. Additionally, learn from is more focused on personal reflection, application and evaluation. Enquiry-based lessons aim to encourage questioning, discussion and debate whilst also aiming to interpret sources through stories, artefacts and texts.

A large emphasis is based on enrichment with the school’s Diversity Ambassadors responsible for assisting in arranging visits to places of worship, inviting local religious leaders to school and celebrating various cultural and religious festivals. Staff, through the RE lead, receive ongoing CPD to build subject knowledge and confidence with resources shared amongst colleagues.

Adaptive teaching strategies ensure all pupils can access ambitious RE learning. Appropriate scaffolds, challenge and support are used to enable every child to succeed whilst maintaining high expectations for all learners.

Impact

At Elmridge, we are committed to developing curious, knowledgeable and accepting members of a diverse community who understand the world around them and are confident and humble. Through an ambitious and enquiry-rich curriculum, children develop secure religious understanding alongside the ability to question, investigate and communicate their ideas effectively.

Know and Understand – Can recall and explain key beliefs, practices and concepts from a range of religions and worldviews whilst using subject-specific vocabulary accurately.

Think and Enquire – Ask thoughtful questions and explore different viewpoints through interpretations of religious material (stories, texts, artefacts) and making connections within and between religions.

Reflect and Respond – Express their own ideas thoughtfully and respectfully whilst showing an understanding of diversity and difference. Each pupil should demonstrate respect, tolerance and empathy.

Wider Impact – Pupils leave our school with a strong understanding of religion and belief in the modern world. The ability to engage respectfully with difference and skills that support British Values, including tolerance and mutual respect.

Parents and carers have the legal right to withdraw their child from all or part of Religious Education; if you wish to do so, please contact the school to discuss this further.

DfE RE guidance

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