Religious Education
Purpose of study
This Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (RE) has been created by the Sandwell Agreed Syllabus Conference. It is the legal basis for RE in Sandwell schools. Since 1944, all schools have been required to teach RE to all pupils on roll (with the exception that parents have the right to withdraw their children from the subject). The syllabus explains the value and purposes of RE for all pupils and specifies for teachers what shall be taught in each age group. It provides a coherent framework for setting high standards of learning in RE and enabling pupils to reach their potential in the subject. Religious Education is concerned with the deep meaning that individuals and groups make of their experiences and how this helps them give purpose to their lives. It provides opportunities to explore, make and respond to the meanings of those experiences in relation to the beliefs and experiences of others as well as to one’s own experiences.
Our School Vision for Religious Education
Our vision for Religious Education (RE) at Perryfields Primary School is rooted in strong values and clear purposes. Like all subjects within the curriculum, RE strives to:
• provide every pupil with the opportunity to learn and succeed.
• foster pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development, preparing them for the opportunities, responsibilities, and challenges both now and in the future.
EYFS
RE sits very firmly within the areas of personal, social and emotional development and understanding the world.
Pupils learn:
Children will develop a positive sense of themselves and others, learning to form respectful and meaningful relationships. This will be fostered through a combination of purposeful, guided teaching and opportunities for independent exploration within a nurturing environment. They will begin to recognize and value the differences between individuals and groups within their own community. Additionally, children will have the opportunity to cultivate their emerging moral and cultural awareness.
In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), children will be introduced to both religious and non-religious worldviews through a variety of experiences, including encounters with special people, books, songs, objects, and visits to places of worship. They will listen to and discuss stories, poems, and songs, and begin to engage with subject-specific vocabulary. Using all their senses, children will explore beliefs, practices, and forms of expression within different religions and worldviews. They will ask questions, reflect on their own feelings and experiences, and develop their imagination and curiosity. Through these experiences, they will deepen their appreciation for the world around them, nurturing a sense of wonder and awe.
Key Stage One
Pupils learn to:
Pupils should expand their knowledge and understanding of religions and worldviews, considering their significance within local, national, and global contexts. They will use key subject-specific vocabulary to discuss their learning and begin to ask insightful questions. As they explore different beliefs, they will be encouraged to express their own views, both in response to the material they encounter and through reflection on their own ideas. Pupils will focus on learning about the beliefs and practices of Sikhs, Muslims, and Christians.
Key Stage Two
Pupils learn to:
Pupils should broaden their knowledge and understanding of religions and worldviews, exploring their significance within local, national, and global contexts. They will be introduced to a wider range of sources and subject-specific vocabulary, helping them engage more deeply with the material. Pupils will be encouraged to cultivate curiosity and ask increasingly thought-provoking questions about religion, belief, values, and human life. They will also learn to articulate their own ideas, drawing on relevant information, selecting examples, and providing reasoned arguments to support their views. The study will cover at least Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jewish people, Christians, and non-religious worldviews.
How we achieve this
The teaching and learning approach to RE is built around three core elements, which are integrated to ensure both breadth and balance in exploring religions and beliefs. These elements work together to support the aims of RE and are reflected in classroom practice, where overlap between them is encouraged depending on the religion, concept, and questions being explored.
- Making Sense of Beliefs – identifying and understanding key religious and non-religious beliefs and concepts.
- Making Connections – evaluating, reflecting on, and connecting the beliefs and practices studied, enabling pupils to challenge the ideas they encounter while allowing these ideas to challenge their own thinking.
- Understanding the Impact – exploring how and why people live out their beliefs in different ways, both in their everyday lives and within their communities, as well as in the wider world.
Additional Offer
In addition to their RE lessons, children have the opportunity to visit a variety of places of worship, including a church, temple, gurudwara, and mosque, enhancing their understanding of different faiths. They are also engaged by a specialist humanist speaker, further broadening their knowledge and perspectives. We actively draw on the expertise of our staff and parents, inviting them to share their personal experiences and insights. To celebrate diversity, children are encouraged to take part in festivals that are meaningful to them, and to wear clothing that reflects their cultural heritage. Our school menu is thoughtfully designed to reflect these celebrations, allowing children to share and experience each other’s cultural practices.
Website links to support Religious Education
Religions, festivals and celebrations – Early years Understanding the World – BBC Bitesize
KS1 Religious Studies: Religions of the World – BBC Teach
KS2 Religious Studies: My Life, My Religion – Christianity – BBC Teach