Religious Education
Why we teach Religious Education
While learning about a range of religions in school, children are exposed to a wide range of beliefs which may differ from their own. At Boughton Monchelsea, we encourage all of our students to learn about a variety of religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam. By the end of their time in our school, we hope that they will be able to empathise with others who have differing views, as well as understand the similarities and differences to their own views. At Boughton, our religious education aims to engage children to learn about and from religions and worldviews in local, national and global contexts. They will discover, explore and consider different answers to questions regarding different faiths.
We have chosen to create our own question-based programme for teaching religious education at Boughton Monchelsea, as we have been able to tailor this not only to the children’s viewpoints but also those of our community. We have also been able to plan when our children learn about a variety of important festivals, such as Easter, Diwali and Christmas.
How we teach Religious Education
We cover Religious Education in our whole school assemblies with a particular theme or story which encourages the children to question and complete their own research into particular topics. We also complete weekly lessons following a questions-based model, which allows the children to hear a question, discuss it as a group, find information through research, videos or whole class discussions and then to go back to their initial question. This allows the children to become the focus of the lesson and allows them to seize control of their learning and the knowledge they gather. Overall, the lessons are engaging, fun and allow the children to express themselves and their beliefs in a safe environment.
Our Curriculum Drivers in Religious Education
Being Human
In RE, we learn what our peers believe, while also learning how to be considerate of others’ opinions and feelings. During our RE sessions, we learn about other cultures and religions and children are able to develop their empathy and relational understanding and skills. This means that our pupils are more aware of themselves, their actions and their beliefs.
The World
During our RE lessons, the children learn about the people within the world and how their lives might differ from our own based on their cultures and religions. This allows the children to make comparisons to their own lives and beliefs and become aware of others.
Change
During some of our RE units, we begin to look at the past. In Key Stage 2, in particular, children look at the similarities and differences between Judaism and Christianity. They also look at important historical figures who have been influenced by their faiths.
Exploration
In RE, the children begin to explore the world around them and their place within it. They begin to explore others' views and how this might shape their future.
How our curriculum is structured
Since 2022, we have been using a question-based approach to teaching RE across the school from EYFS to Upper Key Stage 2. During lessons, children are posed a question. They then learn through videos, pictures, stories and information sheets about a particular theme or religion. Finally, they are asked the question again and the children’s voice is recorded into a class book.
re skills and knowledge progression .pdf