Intent

• To provide opportunities for pupils to recognise and develop their own beliefs, values and attitudes and those of others
• To support the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of all our pupils to enable them to become well rounded citizens
• To cultivate a community where every individual is appreciated, respected and encouraged to fulfil their potential
• To have our Christian values permeate a rich and varied RE curriculum 

Implementation

We teach RE using the Manchester agreed syllabus, 2016-2021.  This syllabus reinforces the importance of religious education as an academic discipline. It enables understanding of concepts and the development of skills and attitudes so that our pupils can explore wider issues of religion and belief in religiously literate ways.

The RE curriculum is split into 3 strands: believing, expressing and living. Each unit of work within the curriculum has a Big Question which launches the learning which will take place.  There is also a series of more specific questions which are explored on a weekly basis.  These questions engage pupils in systematic enquiry of significant human questions which religion and worldviews address. 

Children learn about religion with a focus on beliefs, teachings and sources, practices and ways of life and forms of expression. Pupils learn to communicate their knowledge and understanding using specialist vocabulary. The curriculum includes opportunities to identify and develop an understanding of ultimate questions and ethical issues. Children also learn from religion, this develops their ability to reflect on, and respond to, their own experiences and learning about religion. It develops children's skills of application, interpretation and evaluation of what they learn about religion, particularly questions of identity and belonging, meaning, purpose, truth, values and commitments, and communicating their responses.

R.E. work is linked to other areas of the curriculum including, literacy, science, music, art and drama. 

Resources are used to promote learning in creative, practical and imaginative ways. This supports the delivery of a creative and challenging curriculum, which is built on first-hand experience. 

We have a number of special ‘super learning days’ where children are inspired, and enthused by the creative use of the arts.

The Manchester R.E. curriculum is predominately Christian, however other religions, such as Judaism, Islam and Hinduism, which are significantly represented in school, are also studied.

Summary of the RE curriculum at Chorlton C of E

EYFS
Children will explore the following questions:
Which stories are special and why?
Which people are special and why?
Which places are special and why?
Which times are special and why?
Where do we belong?
What is special about our world and why?

KS1
Children in Year 1 and 2 will explore the following questions:
Who is a Christian and what do they believe?
Who is a Muslim and what do they believe?
Who is Jewish and what do they believe?
What can we learn from sacred books?
What makes some places sacred?
How and why do we celebrate special and sacred times?
What does it mean to belong to a faith community?
How should we care for other and the world and why does it matter?

KS2
Children in Year 3 and 4 will explore the following:
What do people believe about God?
Why is the Bible important to Christians today?
Why is Jesus inspiring to some people?
Why do some people pray?
Why are festivals important to some religious communities?
Why do some people think life is a journey?
What does it mean to be a Christian in Britain today?
What does it mean to be a Hindu in Britain today?
What can we learn from religions about what is right and wrong?

Children in Year 5 and 6 will explore the following:
Why do some people believe God exists?
What would Jesus do?
What do religions say to us when life gets hard?
If God is everywhere, why go to a place of worship?
Is it better to express your religion in arts and architecture or in charity and generosity?
What does it mean to be a Muslim in Britain today?
What matters most to Christians and Humanists?
What difference does it make to believe in Ahimsa (harmlessness), Grace, and Ummah (community)?

Our Religious Education curriculum is also drawn from: 

• Christian Aid 
• Understanding Christianity

Impact

Through our teaching of RE, our children have a better understanding of a range of religions. Pupils can articulate their own thoughts about religion, belief and spirituality. They gain a deeper understanding of beliefs and practices which enable children to arrive at an informed and empathetic understanding of different groups which will help promote community cohesion and integration.

Enjoyment of the RE Curriculum taught promotes confidence, creativity and inquisitiveness in the children and an understanding of how their learning can help them in their own decision making and future.