Religious Education (R.E)

At Hawkesley Church Primary Academy, we aim to provide every child with the opportunity to ‘Let your light shine’ (Matthew, 5:16). RE is an essential, contributing component to facilitating this within our learning community and aims to celebrate the rich, culturally diverse society that our children are growing up in today. 

As a Church of England and Methodist School, we ensure that there is direct teaching about John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. We seek to provide our pupils with the opportunity to: acquire a rich, deep knowledge and understanding of Christian belief and practice; interact with Biblical text and theological ideas; and be engaged and challenged through an exploration of core concepts and questions.

Our vision is to ensure that children leave our school with the ability to enjoy the full and free liberty of thinking for themselves. We believe it is paramount to explore other world faiths in order to celebrate and foster an awareness of the differences that exist within our academy, community and the wider world. It is essential that our RE curriculum ensures that we enable the children to show respect for diversity and differences, whilst simultaneously encouraging them to identify the similarities.

Our school values and ethos underpin and drive everything we do here at Hawkesley Church Primary. Our Christian vision is seen as an expression of God’s limitless love and grace, illuminating the greatness in everyone, so they can 'Let their light shine'. It reflects our school’s distinctively inclusive and aspirational culture. This leads everyone here at Hawkesley to live out a bold and empowering spirit that characterises decision making and forward planning by leaders and governors.

Religious education has a unique place as a central subject in the curriculum of Hawkesley Church Primary Academy. It is neither a core nor a foundation subject; the 1988 Education Act states that ‘Religious Education has equal standing in relation to core subjects of the National Curriculum in that it is compulsory for all registered pupils’.

 Through our Religious Education curriculum we aim:

• to engage pupils in enquiring into and exploring questions arising from the study of religion and belief, so as to promote their personal, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
• to provide learners with knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other principal religious traditions and beliefs represented in Great Britain.
• to develop their understanding of the ways in which beliefs influence people in their behaviour, practices and outlook.
• to enable learners to apply the insights of the principal religious traditions to their own search for identity and significance.
• to enable learners to become aware of their own beliefs and values and to have a positive attitude to the search for meaning and purpose in life.
• to encourage learners to develop a positive attitude towards other people who hold religious beliefs different from their own.

 Religious Education at Hawkesley develops pupils’…

• knowledge and understanding of, and their ability to respond to, Christianity, other principal world religions, other religious traditions and world views;
• understanding and respect for different religions, beliefs, values and traditions (including ethical life stances), through exploring issues within and between faiths;
• understanding of the influence of faith and belief on individuals, societies, communities and cultures;
• skills of enquiry and response through the use of religious vocabulary, questioning and empathy;
• skills of reflection, expression, application, analysis and evaluation of beliefs, values and practices, and the communication of personal responses to these.

 Religious Education at Hawkesley encourages pupils to…

• consider challenging questions of the meaning and purpose of life; beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human;
• understand the influence of religion on individuals, families, communities and cultures;
• learn from different religions, beliefs, values and traditions while exploring questions of meaning and their own beliefs;
• learn about religious and ethical teaching, enabling them to make reasoned and informed responses to religious, moral and social issues;
• develop their sense of identity and belonging, preparing them for life as citizens in a plural, global society;
• develop respect for and sensitivity to others, in particular those whose faiths and beliefs are different from their own.

 Religious Education at Hawkesley enhances pupils’…

• awareness and understanding of religions and beliefs, teachings, practices and forms of expression;
• ability to reflect on, consider, analyse, interpret and evaluate issues of truth, belief, faith and ethics and to communicate their responses.

 Religious Education at Hawkesley offers…

• opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development.

RE rationale and purpose 

RE Progression map