“Tolerance, inter-cultural dialogue and respect for diversity are more essential than ever in a world where peoples are becoming more and more closely interconnected”
Kofi Annan

INTENT

What do we teach? Why do we teach it?

At Ambler Primary School, our intent for RE is to enable children to become inquisitive, accepting, mindful individuals who can express an understanding and insight of the rich and diverse world we live in. We believe that all pupils should have the opportunity to learn about the beliefs and values of the individuals, families and communities linked to our school. We want our children to have belief in themselves whilst having the confidence to question the pertinent issues that our society faces today. Our role is to ensure that children aspire to become the very best individuals they can be in order to contribute to the school, our community and the wider world.

Our principal aim of our RE curriculum is to engage pupils in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religion and worldviews address, so that they can develop the understanding and skills needed to appreciate and appraise varied responses to these questions, as well as develop responses of their own.

IMPLEMENTATION

How do we teach and assess and how does this look in practice?

At Ambler, we follow the Islington agreed RE syllabus which will be updated in 2022. The syllabus is based around a key question approach, where the questions open up the content to be studied. This agreed syllabus requires that all pupils learn from Christianity in each key stage. In addition, pupils will learn from the principal religions represented in the UK, in line with the law. These are Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Judaism. Furthermore, children from families where non-religious worldviews are held are represented in almost all of our classrooms. These worldviews, including for example Humanism, will also be the focus for study.

In order to ensure thorough coverage of the curriculum, RE is taught through termly RE days in years 1-6. At the end of each unit, children’s learning will be assessed through 3-4 questions based on the learning carried out on each RE day.

Throughout the school year, each year group will have the opportunity to visit a place of worship/ meet practitioners from different faiths. Such opportunities help to bring the children’s learning to life and give them a platform to ask questions in a safe environment. Regular assemblies and celebrations of religious and non-religious festivals and events, implemented alongside our RE days, will help to celebrate the diversity of the wider community in Islington.

INTENT

By the time they leave Ambler, 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.

“RE helps me to learn about different religions, how they worship and what they do in their community” – Dan (Year 3)

“You need to learn about your religion but to also understand and respect other religions. I find it interesting learning about all different religions and having the opportunity to discuss my own” – Aayan (Year 5)

“I like our RE days because it teaches us about different religions. I enjoyed making a den when learning about the parable, ‘The Lost Sheep’ and writing our own message about caring for others” – Imogen (Year 2)