At Arno Vale we learn Religious Education because we are curious about different people’s religions, beliefs and values. 

Intent

At Arno Vale Junior school, we recognise the value that a high quality Religious Education curriculum can offer to our pupils.  Religious Education has a significant role for the development of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. It promotes respect and open-mindedness towards others with different faiths and beliefs and encourages pupils to develop their sense of identity and belonging through self-awareness and reflection. The main aim of RE is to engage pupils to develop an understanding and appreciation for the expression of beliefs, cultural practices and influence of principle religions and worldviews in the local, national and wider global community.

Nottinghamshire Agreed Syllabus Aims for RE

The Nottinghamshire Agreed Syllabus for RE aims to ensure that all pupils:

Know about and understand a range of religions and worldviews, so that they can:

• Describe, explain and analyse beliefs and practices, recognize the diversity which exists within and beween communities;

• Identify, investigate and respond to questions posed by, and responses offered by some of the sources of wisdom found in religions and worldviews;

• Appreciate and appraise the nature, significance and impact of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning.

Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and worldviews, so that they can:

• Explain reasonably their ideas about how beliefs, practices and forms of expression influence individual and communities;

• Express with increasing discernment their personal reflections and critical responses to questions and teachings about identity, diversity, meaning and value;

• Appreciate and appraise varied dimensions of religion

Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and worldviews, so that they can:

• Find out about and investigate key concepts and questions of belonging, meaning, purpose and truth, responding creatively;

• Enquire into what enables different communities to live together respectfully for the wellbeing of all;

• Articulate beliefs, values and commitments clearly in order to explain reasons why they may be important in their own and other people’s lives.

Implementation

We follow the Nottinghamshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.  Religious Education (RE) is taught to all children.  Our teaching promotes the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils. It reflects the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian whilst taking account of the teaching and practices of other principal religions represented in Great Britain. Our teaching enables pupils to acquire knowledge and understanding of religious beliefs, attitudes, practices and rituals. They will also be aware that some people have no attachment to religious beliefs and follow secular philosophies.

Religious Education DfE Guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/religiouseducation-guidance-in-english-schools-non-statutory-guidance-2010

Impact

At Arno Vale Junior school, we seek to ensure that all pupils in our school are educated to develop spiritually, academically, emotionally and morally to enable them to better understand themselves and others and to cope with the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities of living in a rapidly changing, multicultural world.

The use of PSHE and our school values implemented alongside R.E. lessons, will help to celebrate the diversity of the wider community in Nottinghamshire, including beliefs, traditions, culture and history.