Religious Education

‘All children need to acquire core knowledge and understanding of the beliefs and practices of the religions and worldviews which not only shape their history and culture but which guide their own development. The modern world needs young people who are sufficiently confident in their own beliefs and values that they can respect the religious and cultural differences of others, and contribute to a cohesive and compassionate society.’ - Natre 

Intent: 

At Olga Primary School we believe that it is important for all our pupils to learn from and about religion, so that they can better understand themselves and the world around them. Religious Education has a significant role for the development of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. At Olga, through the teaching of RE, we promote children to  be respectful and open-minded towards others with different faiths and beliefs and encourage pupils to develop their sense of identity and belonging through self-awareness and reflection.

The aims of teaching Religious Education are: 

Develop a sense of self, of community and of the world beyond.

Gain the knowledge and understanding of different religious beliefs, ways of life, symbols, social rules and customs.

Realise questions about the different God/gods and religion can be interpreted in different ways.

Are able to develop their own values, beliefs and attitudes through reflection of their own and others’ experiences.

Show sensitivity, tolerance and respect for their own and other’s feelings and actions.

Implementation: 

At Olga Primary School, we follow the Tower Hamlets Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education as the basis of our teaching which will ensure children will: 

Develop their knowledge and understanding of the world’s major religions.
Deepen their understanding and awareness of the beliefs, values and traditions of other individuals, societies, communities and cultures.
Gain an understanding of the ways in which beliefs influence people in their behaviour, practices and outlook.
Develop a positive attitude towards other people who hold religious beliefs different from their own.
Be able to ask questions about the world and to reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences.
Experience first-hand visits to local places of worship and visits from faith communities.
Develop a genuine interest in the subject and a real sense of curiosity about the world and the people who live here.
The RE syllabus offers a considered path through ideas and issues in six of the world's major religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism) as well as the opportunity for thoughtful consideration of non-religious or alternative world views such as humanism. This wide-ranging extent is particularly important in our diverse borough and school. This syllabus helps us equip pupils with tools and skills to learn, examine and come to understand ideas and practices that shape their lives and that of their friends and families.

At Olga Primary School, RE is taught for approximately:

36 hours per year in Reception (50 minutes a week or some short sessions implemented through continuous provision) 
36 hours per year in KS1. 
45 hours per year in KS2.
At Olga, Children start the unit and every lesson off with recapping prior learning within the unit and previous year. This helps to ensure new learning is built upon children’s existing knowledge. Children have opportunities to learn about religion inside and outside of the classroom and have various visitors throughout the year. 

Impact:

Our Religious Curriculum at Olga focusses on progression of knowledge and skills throughout the key stages. The impact is measured using the following methods.

Continuous discussion with children about their learning. 
Questioning and feedback in lesson 
End of unit assessment task 
Images and videos of practical work 
Book scrutiny and pupil voice 
Learning walks