RE

Intent

It is our intent for the Religious Education element of our school curriculum to engage, inspire, challenge and encourage pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to answer challenging questions, explore different religious beliefs, values and traditions. We want our pupils to develop a more rigorous understanding of the numerous religious traditions, beliefs and practices that are followed in our multi-cultural society. The principle aim of RE is to engage pupils in an enquiry approach where they can 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. We want them to know how religious education promotes discernment and enables pupils to combat prejudice, preparing them for adult life, employment and life-long learning. 

Implementation

At Barley Croft we use the Leicester Agreed Syllabus SACRE planning, written and provided by Leicester City Council. We have a 2 year rolling programme that takes account of all the units. We use a 2 year rolling format to ensure coverage, as we have one and a half form entry and therefore have mixed year group classes. This also allows us to include additional lessons to cover British Values and stand alone events such as Remembrance Day and Mothers/Fathers’ Day.

Within the long term plan, we also include major festivals that are pertinent to the demographic of our school and will be observed and/or celebrated. These lessons also raise the profile within the school community and coincide with Leicester City Council child friendly interactive free drop in sessions, held within the City centre, that children could attend.

Impact

When children leave Barley Croft they will be able to;

• Apply what they have learned to their own spiritual ideas, experiences and questions and to religious and social issues in Leicester, the UK and the wider world.
• Develop understanding of fairness, justice, compassion and green issues.
• Describe some examples of how the religious communities of Leicester celebrate together and work together.
• Apply and make links with what they have learned to some of their own beliefs, values and opinions.
• Make links between what religions teach about right and wrong and pupils’ own views.
• Make links between their own ideas and the ways religions and beliefs enable people to value themselves and recognise their responsibility towards others.
• Describe the different ways in which religious people use and explain the symbolism of food, clothing, music, ritual objects and behaviour.
• Understand how religious faith helps some people to deal with both positive and negative feelings and experiences.
• Describe and evaluate some key events in the lives of contemporary figures who have inspired believers.
• Make links between religious and moral ideals and their influence on lifestyle and behaviour.