Religious Education
Religious Education Statement
INTENT
The purpose of Religious Education in Shelley School is to begin to equip pupils with the knowledge, understanding and discernment that may be required in order for them to operate confidently, sensitively and critically in pluralistic Britain.
We aim to give pupils the substantive knowledge, the ‘ways of knowing’ and the personal understandings that will enable them to develop their religious education at secondary school and beyond.
Religious Education at Shelley develops pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other religions and worldviews, providing opportunities for pupils to examine the influence of religion on individuals, families, communities and cultures. Our curriculum aims to encourage pupils to reflect on, consider, analyse, interpret, and evaluate issues of truth, belief, faith, and ethics and to communicate their responses. Our curriculum seeks to provide pupils with the tools they might need to provoke challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality.
Data shows that the overwhelming majority of pupils at Shelley School are ethnically white-British and do not regularly attend a place of worship. Their understanding of religion is generally not developed by a substantial, formal, religious life outside of school.
Our curriculum seeks to enable pupils to develop respect for and sensitivity towards others, and to be discerning about the values that they currently, or may strive to, live by.
IMPLEMENTATION
Religious Education at Shelley School:
- Strengthens pupils understanding of Christianity and the British Christian cultural heritage of which they are part
- Affords the opportunity for some ‘comparative study’ of themes between Christianity and Judaism, Hinduism, Islam and non-faith-based attitudes and beliefs
- Is progressive and balanced, achieving this through its considered sequence of teaching across key stages, years and units of study that cover theology and religious practice and thinking about some of the ‘big’ questions and issues of life
- Provides opportunities for pupils to engage in activities and experiences which develop their substantive, disciplinary and personal religious knowledge
- Caters for the full range of pupil ability, allowing inclusive access for those with special educational needs and challenging the most able to achieve their full potential
- Makes explicit links with British Values, promotes inclusion and plurality, encourages critical thinking and does not shy away from discussing challenging and complex issues
IMPACT
Pupils will:
Be equipped with the substantive, disciplinary and personal knowledge required for them to successfully continue their study of religion at secondary school and beyond and be better equipped with the tools required to operate confidently, sensitively and critically in pluralistic Britain.