Religious Education

Vision

We are committed to equipping our children with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive as Global Citizens, recognising the important role that understanding religion and worldviews plays in this journey. Religious Education (RE) is a statutory requirement in all state‑funded schools, and our curriculum reflects a clear understanding of its educational value for pupils, schools, and society as a whole.

Our RE curriculum is designed to nurture pupils’ ability to think critically about people’s beliefs, traditions, and ideas about the world. It provides an open exploration of what people believe, how they live, and the impact that beliefs, values, and worldviews have on individuals and communities—locally, nationally, and globally. Through engaging with these concepts, pupils gain insight into what matters to others, what influences their lives, and how different perspectives shape the world around us.

In doing so, learners grow into independent and responsible members of society who can explore life’s big questions—discovering what people believe, how these beliefs shape their actions, and how this understanding helps them make sense of religion and reflect on their own values, ideas, and ways of living.

Intent

Our curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils develop knowledge and understanding of A. sources of wisdom and their impact whilst exploring B. personal and critical responses.

A. Sources of wisdom from religions and worldviews and their impact

All pupils should:

explore and understand why sacred texts, other sources of wisdom, and different ways of expressing beliefs matter to people
share ideas about what different beliefs, values and practices are like, and how they shape who people are in their communities—locally, nationally and around the world
spot and discuss the similarities and differences within and between religious and non‑religious worldviews

B. Personal and critical responses to religion and worldviews

All pupils should:

talk about their own reflections and opinions with growing confidence, thinking carefully about spiritual, moral, philosophical and ethical questions
explore the big questions that religions and worldviews ask; considering and respecting the different answers people give
develop the skills to listen, discuss and work well with others, showing respect, understanding and compassion

Implementation

At Aycliffe Drive Primary, we follow the Hertfordshire SACRE syllabus to help children learn about a wide range of beliefs, values, and ways of understanding the world. Our lessons are engaging and age‑appropriate, encouraging pupils to ask questions, share their ideas, and respect the viewpoints of others. Throughout the year, children explore 8 key areas:

Through stories, discussions, creative tasks and real-life examples, pupils learn to appreciate diversity, develop empathy, and reflect on their own thoughts and experiences.

Religion and Worldviews education is taught for one hour each week. Class teachers deliver the lessons planned from the end points of our curriculum, enriched with opportunities for pupils to hear stories, handle artefacts, and take part in discussions that help them consider their own beliefs.

We provide a variety of learning experiences, including discussions, debates, religious stories and visits to places of worship, ensuring that pupils learn through a range of teaching styles. In addition, at Aycliffe we celebrate a variety of religious festivals throughout the year, helping children understand how people with different religious beliefs live, worship and celebrate alongside one another.

Impact

Through our Religion and Worldviews curriculum, pupils will develop a secure and connected understanding of a range of religions and worldviews, confidently using appropriate religious vocabulary to articulate their learning. They will learn to analyse and compare different viewpoints within and between beliefs, recognising the diversity that exists both locally and globally. Pupils will understand the influence of faith on individuals and communities, and respond to differing perspectives on belonging, meaning and truth with respect, empathy and compassion.

As they enquire into human values and responsibilities, pupils will grow in their ability to express thoughtful and increasingly curious personal reflections. They will also recognise the importance of moral choices, drawing on examples and giving clear reasoning to support their ideas. Through this, pupils will become reflective, informed and considerate learners who can engage positively within a diverse society.