Religious Education
Leeds Local Agreed Syllabus for RE
Our planning for RE lessons is informed by the Leeds Local Agreed Syllabus. Please see the Curriculum plan for year group specific coverage. This is due to be updated by the local authority in Summer 2024. The new document will be uploaded onto this page in September 2024.
Intent
We believe that studying world religions enables people from all walks of life to live and work together. Through our RE curriculum, children develop knowledge of the beliefs and practices of the religions and world views which shape history and culture. They gain an understanding of the ways of life which are present in our local community and in the wider world. Children are given opportunities to explore their thoughts and feelings about the knowledge they encounter and reflect on how it is similar and different to their own views and beliefs. Children consider how religious beliefs affect a person’s actions and can have a positive impact on the world. Our RE curriculum helps pupils to develop their own sense of identity and belonging, helping them to find their place in their community. It teaches respect for others and helps to challenge prejudices. We encourage understanding, cooperation, empathy, wisdom and compassion. Through becoming confident in their own beliefs, they will learn to respect religious and cultural differences and make their own positive impact on their community and the wider world.
“Religions are different roads converging to the same point. What does it matter that we take different roads, as long as we reach the same goal.” Ghandi, Civil Rights Activist.
Implementation
RE is taught in specific lessons and is embedded through everyday opportunities as they arise. We help each child grow spiritually and develop an awareness and understanding of Christianity and other major world religions. We foster attributes such as truthfulness, kindness, understanding of right and wrong, fairness, humility and respect for, and tolerance of, the beliefs, customs and cultures of others. We take children to a range of places of worship during their time at our school so that they can develop an awareness of their multi-cultural society. We have regular assemblies led by local faith leaders as well as major festivals and stories from a variety of faiths featuring in our assemblies. As a school, we engage in a variety of local projects to ensure children have the opportunity to develop their awareness of taught attributes. For example, our children recently participated in The Leeds Bear Hunt charity event and donated to our local foodbank.
“Every religion emphasizes human improvement, love, respect for others, sharing other people's suffering. On these lines every religion had more or less the same viewpoint and the same goal." Dalai Lama
Year 1 Making Diva Lamps
Year 6 Learning about Baptism at Moorside Church
Year 5 Posting Prayers at the Western Wall as part of their learning on Pilgrimage
The RE curriculum is organised to support the development of children’s knowledge of religious and non-religious beliefs and worldviews, practices and ways of life and enable children to make links between these. It also develops children’s knowledge and understanding of the different members of our rich and diverse community. Knowledge and skills are supported by first-hand experiences, including visits to local places of worship and visits from faith communities. Knowledge and skills are mapped to support children’s understanding of religion and faith. The RE curriculum is also designed to support positive attitudes and values, and encourage children to reflect and relate learning to their own experience.
Year 5 Visit to Bradford Mosque
Year 6 Visit to Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara
Year 6: Thinking about Values which are Important to Us
Year 6 Drama - The Events of Palm Sunday
Impact
Our successful teaching of Religious Education ensures that children at Drighlington Primary School are able to:
- Develop their own beliefs and values.
- Respect other people and their beliefs.
- Contribute to and build a cohesive community.
- Understand the importance of morality and empathy in our society.
Our children enjoy RE lessons and give positive feedback about their learning. The educational trips to places of worship provides our children with a deeper understanding of the faith they are learning about.
How you can help your child at home
Partnerships with parents and carers is an important part of Drighlington Primary School. Working closely with parents enables us to ensure parents feel confident that their child is safe, well looked and is receiving a high quality education during their school hours. The links below offer a range of resources that may also be useful to families.
Activities for Children: https://cafod.org.uk/Education/Kidz-Zone
Bible Stories: https://biblehub.com/childrens/
BBC Bitesize KS1: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zxnygk7
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/religions-of-the-world/zfxwpg8
BBC Bitesize KS2: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z7hs34j
Topmarks Games and Activities: https://www.topmarks.co.uk/Search.aspx?Subject=25&AgeGroup=2
RE Questions and Answers: https://request.org.uk/resource/?view=resources&cat=3
World Religions: http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/Religion.html
Places to visit
Local Places of Worship:
Moorside Church: http://www.moorsidechurch.org.uk/
St Paul's Church: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/18108/
Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara: https://www.bradfordgurdwara.com/
Bradford Grand Mosque: https://www.bradfordgrandmosque.co.uk/
Further support and useful weblinks
Early Years Development Matters