Religious Education (RE)
RE Curriculum Statement
Intent
At Grange Primary School, Religious Education follows the Lancashire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (2021) ‘Searching for Meaning’, which is the legal basis for RE in Lancashire. The syllabus frames RE as pupils’ personal search for meaning and uses the Lancashire Field of Enquiry to specify progressive, clearly sequenced knowledge and skills across EYFS–KS2.
Our curriculum is ambitious for all pupils. In EYFS, learning sits within ‘Understanding the World: People, Culture and Communities’ and builds awareness of similarities and differences in religious and cultural communities. Across KS1 and KS2, pupils study Christianity and Islam in depth, alongside Hinduism, Judaism, Sikh traditions and—by Year 6—non‑religious worldviews such as Humanism. We complement the Lancashire syllabus with Opening Worlds RE at KS2 to secure rich substantive knowledge and disciplinary thinking through carefully structured enquiry questions.
Implementation
We implement RE through sequenced units and enquiry questions that revisit and deepen powerful knowledge and vocabulary. In KS1, pupils encounter key stories, beliefs, practices and places of worship (with planned visits). In KS2, Opening Worlds provides coherent units (e.g., Hindu stories and devotion; Judaism from Abraham to the Temple; Christianity from the life of Jesus to the early Church; Islam including Ramadan, prophets and Hajj; Buddhism; Sikhism), each taught with explicit vocabulary, reading, discussion and writing.
Teaching blends retrieval practice, direct instruction of new content, engagement with sources and artefacts, structured talk and short written outcomes. EYFS provision models respectful curiosity and celebrates diversity through stories, songs and artefacts. Knowledge organisers and glossaries support recall; visits to local places of worship and visitors are planned with clear pre‑ and post‑learning.
Impact
Ongoing assessment (questioning, mini‑quizzes, short written tasks, pupil voice and work samples/floor books) informs teaching and captures progress. End‑of‑key‑stage outcomes are moderated and reported in line with local expectations. Pupils build secure knowledge and vocabulary, reason using theological, philosophical and human/social sciences lenses, and demonstrate respectful curiosity and informed viewpoints. RE contributes strongly to SMSC, British Values, reading, oracy and writing.
Religious education
Schools have to teach RE but parents can withdraw their children for all or part of the lessons. Pupils can choose to withdraw themselves once they’re 18 (Department for Education). If you would like to withdraw your child from RE sessions, you would need to do so in writing to the Headteacher.