Religious Education

At Speldhurst school we ensure that RE is not just an academic subject but lies at the very heart of the curriculum and has an important role in reflecting and conveying the distinctly Christian character of the school.  

Pupils and their families can expect a high quality religious education (RE) curriculum that is rich and varied, enabling learners to acquire a thorough knowledge and understanding of a range of faiths and world views. As a church school, the teaching of Christianity is at the heart of our RE curriculum. Through the Understanding Christianity resource, the use of an enquiry approach engages with significant theological concepts and the pupil’s own understanding of the world as part of their wider religious literacy. Using the Rochester Diocesan syllabus, we learn about other religions and world views, fostering respect for them. Links with our Christian values and vision, and support for pupil’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development are intrinsic to our RE curriculum and have a significant impact on learners. We provide a wide range of opportunities for learners to understand and to make links between the beliefs, practices and value systems of the range of faiths and world views studied.

Aims

As stated in the Church of England Religious Education Statement of Entitlement, religious education in this school aims

• To enable pupils to know about and understand Christianity as a living faith that influences the lives of people worldwide and as the religion that has most shaped British culture and heritage.

• To enable pupils to know and understand about other major world religions and world views, their impact on society, culture and the wider world, enabling pupils to express ideas and insights.

• To contribute to the development of pupils’ own spiritual/philosophical convictions, exploring and enriching their own beliefs and values.

Objectives

As stated in the Church of England Religious Education Statement of Entitlement, appropriate to age at the end of their education in our school, the expectation is that all pupils are religiously literate and as a minimum pupils are able to:

• Give a theologically informed and thoughtful account of Christianity as a living and diverse faith.

• Show an informed and respectful attitude to religions and world views in their search for God and meaning.

• Engage in meaningful and informed dialogue with those of other faiths and none.

• Reflect critically and responsibly on their own spiritual, philosophical and ethical convictions.