RE

Intent

At Pear Tree Primary School, we believe that children should learn about the wide range of religions and beliefs that exist in the world around them. This helps prepare them for life in modern Britain and beyond, where people come from many different backgrounds and have different ways of thinking and living. Our school value of “a strong sense of community” underpins this learning, encouraging pupils to respect, support and learn from one another.

Our Religious Education (RE) curriculum encourages pupils to be curious, respectful and open-minded. Children learn to talk about different beliefs in a thoughtful and balanced way. We aim to help them become “religiously literate”, meaning they can understand and discuss religion and belief with confidence and respect.

Through RE, pupils explore a variety of religions and worldviews, including non-religious perspectives. They learn important knowledge about beliefs, practices and traditions, and begin to understand why these are important to different people. Children are also encouraged to ask questions, think carefully about different ideas and listen to the views of others.

We help pupils to:

· learn about different religions and beliefs

· understand similarities and differences between people

· talk about their own ideas and listen to others respectfully

· develop skills to agree and disagree kindly

· reflect on their own values and sense of belonging

Our curriculum is carefully planned so that there is a clear understanding of what pupils should know and when they should know it. Key knowledge is revisited regularly to help children remember more over time. We aim for pupils to confidently recall important information about the religions and beliefs they study.

Although our local area has limited religious diversity, we aim to broaden pupils’ experiences by teaching about the wider world. This helps children challenge stereotypes, develop empathy and understand the importance of respect and fairness. In line with our commitment to developing the whole child, we also encourage pupils to care for their environment. This is supported through opportunities for outdoor learning, including activities such as Forest Schools.

Where possible, we enrich our RE curriculum through visits to places of worship and by welcoming visitors from different backgrounds. These experiences help bring learning to life and allow pupils to meet people with different beliefs. When visits are not possible, we use virtual experiences and classroom activities to achieve the same aim.

Our RE curriculum follows the Cheshire East Agreed Syllabus, ensuring it is relevant, balanced and appropriate for our pupils. We are committed to ensuring high-quality teaching, and staff receive ongoing professional development (CPD) to support them in delivering the curriculum effectively.

We use a range of assessment methods to understand what pupils have learned. This includes discussions, written work and reflective activities, helping teachers to check understanding and support progress.

RE also supports children’s wider development. It helps them to:

· explore big questions about life and meaning

· understand right and wrong

· learn how to live well with others

· appreciate different cultures and traditions

Through discussion, stories and activities, pupils learn to think carefully, ask questions and share ideas. They begin to understand how beliefs can influence the way people live their lives.

By the end of primary school, we want our pupils to be thoughtful, respectful and informed individuals who are ready to take their place in a diverse and changing world.