Religious Education

At West Minster Primary School, we believe children should have the opportunity to develop as reflective, empathetic and knowledgeable individuals, we recognise the important role that Religious Education plays in the personal development of all of our pupils, in addition to developing SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) aspects of learning. Pupils will be equipped to face the demands of the contemporary world they live in, developing positive attitudes to their learning and to the beliefs and values of others in line with Fundamental British Values.

What is Religious Education?

The principal aim of Religious Education is to explore big questions about life, to find out what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can make sense of religion, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living.

Religious Education contributes dynamically to children and young people’s education in schools by provoking challenging questions about the meaning and purpose in life, beliefs about God, ultimate reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human to enable children and young people to develop their own beliefs and opinions.

Pupils will learn from religions and worldviews in local, national and global contexts, to discover, explore and consider the impact on themselves and society. While weighing up the value of wisdom from different sources, to agree or disagree respectfully.

Which Religions will be explored?

Although a wide range of religions and worldviews will be explored, due to local context (Kent) a main focus will be presented to Christianity, Muslim, Judaism, Hindus, Buddhist and Humanists. While providing pupils on going opportunities to question and develop their own views and beliefs.

Trips and Visitors

As part of West Minster’s  Religious Education all children will be provided opportunities to visit a wide range of local places of worship and handle artefacts linked to religious studies. We also invite religious leaders and organisations who work within our local community into school to share their beliefs and experiences with the children.

Religious Education Overview

	Autumn 1	Autumn 2	Spring 1	Spring 2	Summer 1	Summer 2	Trip
EYFS	Children encounter Christianity and other faiths, as part of their growing sense of self, their own community and their place within it.						Religious Visitors
Year 1/2	Who is a Christian and what do they believe?Christianity	Who is a Muslim and what do they believe?Islam	Who is Jewish and what do they believe?Judaism	What can we learn from sacred books? Christianity Judaism Islam	What makes some places sacred? Christianity Judaism Islam	How and why do we celebrate special and sacred times?Christianity Judaism Islam	Place of Worship Term 6 Religious Visitors
Year 3/4	Why is Jesus inspiring to some people?Christianity	Why are festivals important?Christianity Judaism Islam Hinduism Humanism	Why do some people think life is a journey?Christianity Judaism Islam Hinduism Humanism	Why do some people think life is a journey?Christianity Judaism Islam Hinduism	What does it mean to a Hindu in Britain today?Hinduism	What can we learn from religions about what is right and wrong? Christianity Judaism Islam Hinduism Humanism	Place of Worship Term 6 Religious Visitors
Year 5/6	What do religions say to us when life gets hard?Christianity Judaism Islam Hinduism Humanism Sikhism Buddhism	Is it better to express your religion in arts and architecture or in charity or generosity?Christianity Judaism Islam Hinduism Humanism Sikhism Buddhism	Is it better to express your religion in arts and architecture or in charity or generosity? Christianity Judaism Islam Hinduism Humanism Sikhism Buddhism	What does it mean to be a Muslim in Britain today?Islam	What matters most to Christians and Humanists?Christianity Humanism	What difference does it make to believe in Ashima, Grace and Ummah? Christianity Hinduism Islam	Place of Worship Term 6 Religious Visitors