Religious Education (RE) 

Intent

At Phoenix Federation, we aspire for our children to become thoughtful and reflective theologians, developing a deep understanding of a range of religious and non-religious worldviews and the role they play in shaping individuals, communities and society.

Our Religious Education curriculum encourages pupils to explore life’s big questions and develop their understanding of beliefs, values, identity, belonging and meaning. Through engaging with Christianity, other major world religions and a range of worldviews, pupils are encouraged to consider questions such as:

• What do people believe and why?
• What gives life meaning and purpose?
• How do beliefs influence actions and choices?
• What does it mean to belong?
• How should people live together?
• What can we learn from different faiths and worldviews?

We want pupils to develop secure knowledge of religious traditions and beliefs whilst acquiring the skills to question, discuss, reflect, analyse, interpret and evaluate. Through their learning, pupils develop empathy, respect and an appreciation of the diverse communities that make up modern Britain and the wider world.

Our curriculum supports pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, enabling them to reflect on their own beliefs and values whilst respecting the beliefs and experiences of others.

Implementation

Religious Education is taught as a distinct subject in accordance with the Lewisham Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. Learning is carefully sequenced to build knowledge and understanding progressively throughout each pupil’s primary journey.

Each unit begins with an enquiry question that encourages pupils to think critically, explore different perspectives and engage deeply with the focus of learning. Throughout each unit, pupils develop both substantive knowledge about religions and worldviews and disciplinary knowledge, learning how to think, question and reason as theologians.

As pupils move through the curriculum, they revisit and deepen their understanding of key concepts, beliefs, practices and traditions. This ensures that knowledge is retained and built upon over time, enabling pupils to make meaningful connections between religions and worldviews.

Christianity forms the largest part of the curriculum in line with the Lewisham Agreed Syllabus. In addition, pupils study Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism, ensuring a broad understanding of the major world faiths represented both nationally and globally.

Through engaging lessons, pupils:

• Explore sacred texts, stories and religious teachings.
• Investigate religious beliefs, practices and traditions.
• Ask and answer challenging questions.
• Discuss ethical and moral issues.
• Compare similarities and differences between religions and worldviews.
• Reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences.
• Develop their oracy skills through discussion, debate and presentation.

Retrieval practice is embedded throughout the curriculum to help pupils remember and build upon previous learning. Teachers use a range of formative assessment strategies, including questioning, discussion, reflective activities, quizzes and exit tickets, to assess understanding and identify misconceptions. Exit tickets provide regular opportunities for pupils to recall key knowledge, reflect on their learning and articulate their understanding of important concepts, beliefs and worldviews, enabling teachers to adapt future learning where necessary.

Learning is enriched through visits to places of worship, visits from faith representatives, community links, assemblies and the celebration of religious festivals. These first-hand experiences deepen pupils’ understanding of different beliefs, cultures and communities while strengthening their appreciation of diversity within modern Britain and the wider world.

Impact

The impact of our Religious Education curriculum is evident in the knowledge, confidence, curiosity and open-mindedness demonstrated by our pupils.

By the time they leave The Phoenix Federation, pupils have developed a secure understanding of a range of religious and non-religious worldviews and can discuss beliefs, values and practices with increasing confidence, sensitivity and respect.

Pupils are able to:

• Reflect on how spiritual, moral and ethical values influence people’s lives.
• Describe similarities and differences within and between religions and worldviews.
• Understand what it means to belong to a faith or community.
• Discuss and evaluate different perspectives on religious and ethical issues.
• Express their own views thoughtfully whilst respecting the views of others.
• Explore questions of meaning, purpose and belief.
• Debate issues of right and wrong using reasoned arguments.
• Demonstrate empathy, tolerance and respect for people from different backgrounds and beliefs.
• Make connections between religion, culture and everyday life.
• Find inspiration in their own experiences and the experiences of others.

Assessment information gathered through discussion, written work, reflection activities, quizzes and exit tickets demonstrates that pupils are able to recall, connect and apply their learning with increasing confidence and accuracy. As a result, pupils develop a deeper understanding of religious beliefs, practices, values and worldviews, enabling them to engage thoughtfully with complex questions about faith, identity, morality and human experience.

Pupils leave The Phoenix Federation as reflective, respectful and informed young people who possess the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to continue their study of religion and worldviews. They are prepared to engage thoughtfully with different beliefs and perspectives and contribute positively to their local, national and global communities.

Subject Leader Statement

“At The Phoenix Federation, we believe that Religious Education plays a vital role in helping children understand themselves, others and the world around them. Through learning about a range of religions and worldviews, pupils develop knowledge, curiosity and respect whilst exploring life’s most important questions. We encourage children to think critically, reflect deeply and engage thoughtfully with different beliefs and perspectives. Our aim is to develop confident, compassionate and open-minded learners who value diversity and are prepared to flourish in an increasingly interconnected world.”