Intent

At Kew Riverside Primary School, our RE curriculum helps children learn about different religions and non-religious beliefs. We teach pupils to respect and understand people who may think or believe differently from them. This helps them live happily in a diverse and multicultural world. Children are encouraged to ask questions, think carefully, and share their own ideas while listening to others. They learn about important beliefs, stories, and practices from major world religions, as well as non-religious viewpoints. This helps them see how people around the world make sense of life and what matters to them. As children move through the school, their learning builds step by step. In the Early Years, children begin by learning about themselves, their feelings, and special people and celebrations. In Key Stage 1, they are introduced to different religions and begin to think about their own ideas. In Key Stage 2, they explore religions and beliefs in more depth and think about important questions about life and how we should live. Our RE lessons help children understand how beliefs influence people’s lives, cultures, and choices today. They also learn to reflect on their own identity and sense of belonging. We give children opportunities to learn from real-life experiences by linking with local communities and encouraging respectful discussion. We aim for all children to succeed in RE by using inclusive teaching and providing support where needed. Our goal is to help pupils become thoughtful, respectful individuals who value diversity and understand both differences and shared human values. Our curriculum is carefully planned so that children build their knowledge over time. We focus on learning about religion and learning from religion. Children explore RE through three ways of thinking: Theology (what people believe and why), Philosophy (big questions about life and meaning), and Human and Social Sciences (how people live out their beliefs). This helps children develop a deeper understanding of religions and world-views, while also encouraging personal reflection and curiosity about the world.

Opting out from RE
Parents / carers can choose to withdraw their child from some or all RE lessons. and also have the right to withdraw their child from any educational visit that is part of the RE curriculum. Parents / carers can only withdraw their child from RE and not other curriculum areas. For example, children cannot be withdrawn from a study of religious art in an art lesson. If parents / carers wish to withdraw their child from receiving the RE curriculum, they should contact the Headteacher to discuss this further. Parents / carers should also inform the school if they no longer wish to have their child withdrawn from RE lessons and visits.

Implementation

At Kew Riverside Primary School, Religious Education is taught in line with the guidance from Richmond SACRE and reflects the principles of the National Curriculum. Our RE curriculum is carefully structured and sequenced to ensure clear progression in knowledge, skills and understanding across EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

RE is taught through a balance of learning about religion and worldviews and learning from them. Lessons are organised through three disciplinary lenses: Theology (beliefs and sources), Philosophy (questions of meaning and truth) and Human and Social Sciences (lived religion). These lenses help pupils to explore religions and worldviews in a structured and meaningful way.

In the Early Years, children begin by exploring their own experiences, special people, celebrations and a sense of belonging. In Key Stage 1, pupils are introduced to major world religions and non-religious worldviews through stories, key figures, celebrations and simple beliefs. In Key Stage 2, learning deepens as pupils study religions and worldviews in more detail, exploring concepts, practices and ethical questions, including non-religious perspectives.

Our curriculum is organised on a two-year cycle to ensure coverage and progression. Key knowledge is revisited and built upon over time, enabling pupils to make connections across different units and phases of learning. Lessons are designed to develop enquiry skills, encouraging pupils to ask questions, interpret sources, discuss different viewpoints and justify their ideas.

Teaching in RE includes a range of strategies such as storytelling, discussion, use of religious texts and artefacts, role play and reflective activities. Pupils are given regular opportunities to express their own views and reflect on their learning, while developing respect and understanding for others.

We enrich the curriculum through links with local religious and non-religious communities, visits, visitors and real-life experiences, helping pupils to understand how beliefs are lived in the modern world.

Assessment is ongoing and used to inform teaching. Teachers use questioning, discussion and written work to check understanding and ensure that all pupils are making progress. Adaptations are made to support all learners, ensuring that the curriculum is accessible, inclusive and appropriately challenging.

Through this approach, pupils develop a secure understanding of religions and world-views, alongside the skills of critical thinking, reflection and respectful dialogue.

 

Impact

EYFS - Willow Class

 

KS1 - Year 1 & 2 Cherry Class

   

 

LKS2 - Year 3 & 4 Ash Class

UKS2 - Yr 5 & 6 - Oak Class