Here, at Middleton Primary School, the aim of Religious Education is to help children to investigate the beliefs and practices of religions and other world views; how religions and other world views address questions of meaning, purpose and value; how religions and other world views influence morality, identity and diversity.
Religious Education is taught throughout the school in such a way as to reflect the overall aims, values, and philosophy of the school. At Middleton Primary, Religious Education plays an important role, along with all other curriculum areas, particularly PSHCE, in promoting the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of our children. We want children to enjoy and love learning about Religious Education by gaining this knowledge and skills, not just through experiences in the classroom, but also by focusing on key questions, reflection and enquiry through the use of artefacts, educational visits and visitors.
Taking into account guidance from the Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education in Calderdale, Kirklees and Leeds (Believing and Belonging 2019 – 2024), we focus on specific core religions at each key stage:
In addition, other (non-religious) world views are included as part of the curriculum at each key stage.
There are no presumptions made as to the religious backgrounds and beliefs and values of the children and the staff. We value the religious background of all members of the school community and hope that this will encourage individuals to share their own experiences with others freely. All religions and their communities are treated with respect and sensitivity and we value the links, which are, and can be made between home, school, and a faith community. We acknowledge that each religion studied can contribute to the education of all our pupils. We promote teaching in Religious Education that stresses open enquiry and first-hand experiences wherever possible for both staff and children.
The children at Middleton Primary School enjoy learning lots about other religions and why people choose, or choose not to follow a religion. Through their R.E. learning, the children are able to make links between their own lives and those of others in their community and in the wider world. Pupils gain an increasing understanding and empathy pf our wide and diverse communities as well as developing religious literacy, thinking skills and ethical judgements.
R.E. offers our children the means by which to understand how other people choose to live and to understand why they choose to live in that way. As such, R.E. is invaluable in an ever-changing world.