RE and Collective Worship

As a Church of England primary school, Religious Education is taught in accordance with the Essex agreed syllabus.  Religious Education encompasses every aspect of school life, contributing to the ethos of the school and affecting relationships with, and attitudes towards, others. Whilst the majority of the content of Religious Education is Christian, the children are helped to become aware of, and respect, other beliefs and faiths.  Our teaching of Religious Education provides opportunities for children to reflect on their inner feelings, discuss issues such as caring, sharing, kindness, tolerance and being sensitive to the beliefs of others.

The school works closely with St. Mary's Church and Rev Carol Ball as well as Ruth Everett, Essex School's Advisor.  

Why do we learn RE?

• to develop children's understanding of the world around them
• to promote inclusion, understanding and tolerance
• to ensure children have opportunities to think, to question and to observe
• to revisit key skills and knowledge across the primary years to ensure children's understanding of Christianity and other religions or world views is embedded and built upon each year
• to equip children with the knowledge of religion and faith they need to hold a conversation and respond to the beliefs of others appropriately and with interest
• to develop children's ability to use philosophy and thought to question and make conclusions
• to introduce children to the wide range of ways people of faith can contribute to their communities and the wider world
• offering opportunities to visit places of faith, and hear from people of faith

What does our learning in RE help us to do?

• develop our understanding of the world around us and the impact of faith on our past, present and future
• ask and answer questions, developing our ability to ask questions of increasing relevance
• develop our vocabulary to talk about religion, faith and diversity with increasing clarity
• enjoy questioning, theorising and concluding
• make connections between our lives and those of others, finding similarities as well as differences
• prepare for our future, whether working in a faith-based career or continuing to develop our interest in the diversity of our world through reading and travel