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Religious Education
At St.Andrew’s, we intend to equip our children with the skills to make sense of beliefs, make connections as well as understand the impact of these beliefs on themselves and the wider world. We use a creative approach to teach RE, incorporating art, music and drama into our study. Pupils learn about Christianity and also about other principal world religions such as Judaism, Hinduism and Islam. RE, however, is not only about understanding specific religious traditions. It offers pupils the opportunity to think about their own lives, values, attitudes or beliefs and the chance to express their thoughts and ideas in a variety of ways.
The study of Christianity is at the heart of our curriculum. We follow the Christian calendar and embed the core Christian values throughout our teachings of other faiths. Schools are required to teach RE, but it isn't part of the National Curriculum; this means that, although they provide guidance on what to teach and the aims of learning about RE, these are non-statutory.
We follow the Devon Agreed Syllabus for RE. The Devon and Torbay Agreed Syllabus 2024 asserts the importance and value of religious education (RE) for all pupils, with on-going benefits for an open, articulate and understanding society. The principal aim of the religious education syllabus is to explore what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion and worldviews, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living. Our Religious Education will support pupils’ own personal moral, philosophical, ethical and spiritual development and promote respect for others.
As a Church of England school, we take seriously our role of presenting Christianity as a living faith. A close link with the church community is encouraged so pupils can see Christian Life, Worship and commitments at every opportunity. We also make a point of marking the celebrations of the Christian Year to deepen understanding and support our Christian ethos.
For pupils with additional needs, there will be every opportunity to work towards the overall objectives of the year group. Pupils may be supported by pre-teaching of key concepts, breaking down tasks into smaller steps, or use of alternative recording methods so that writing does not act as a barrier for learning. High expectations will challenge all children to meet their personal targets.
During RE lessons about Christianity, the children learn about the eight concepts that underpin Christian belief and practice through the ‘Big Story’.
