Religious Education
“Inspiring pupils to engage with life’s big questions”
Our Religious Studies Curriculum intends to:
Inspire pupils to engage with life’s big questions.
Enable pupils to investigate religions and world views through varied experiences, approaches and disciplines
Enable pupils to reflect on the ideas of others and express their own ideas with increasing creativity and clarity and be able to consider how beliefs have an impact on individuals and communities.
At The Westgate School, Religious Education aims to inspire all pupils to engage with life's big questions. We encourage all pupils to think deeply, creativity and to challenge each other's assumptions and misconceptions. Our aim is for all pupils to be able to develop an acceptance of a wide range of faiths and to develop an understanding of different cultures and belief systems.
RE is provided for all pupils in our school through dedicated curriculum time and, as part of our wider programme of Personal Development. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from RE and if you would like to do so, we welcome a discussion with you.
Please use the contact@westgate.hants.sch.uk email address marked "FAO the Senior Leader responsible for Curriculum - RE".
Why Learn RE?
Religion and beliefs inform our values and are reflected in what we say and how we behave. RE is an important subject, developing an individual’s knowledge and understanding of the religions and beliefs which form part of contemporary society. Religious education enquiry provokes challenging questions about ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong, and what it means to be human. It can develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity, of other principles religions, other religious traditions and worldviews that offer answers to various questions.
in the Primary Phase our RE learning is contextualised through a range of religious traditions including: Christian Traditions, Jewish Traditions, Sikhi Traditions, Buddhist Traditions, Islamic Traditions and non-religious viewpoints. We also recognise that everyone's experiences are different and our cycles of enquiry reflect differences within Religious Traditions.
Religious Education course in the secondary phase involves the learning about two major world religions, Christianity and Islam and looks at their beliefs and practices, their customs and traditions, their festivals and holy days. We also learn different ethical perspectives.
The RE curriculum follows Hampshire's syllabus, ‘Living Difference’, reflecting mainly Christian traditions of Great Britain whilst taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain.
In Key Stage 1 we teach RE through a cyclical approach following a 'Cycle of Enquiry'. We teach Key Concepts that link directly to children's own experiences and are contextualised within a variety of religious traditions.
Year R
Christian, Jewish and Hindu Traditions.
Autumn Term: Celebrating birthdays.
Spring Term: Special clothes for Christians and Hindus. Eggs as a symbol of the empty tomb and new life.
Summer Term: Celebrations and Shabbat. Managing new situations, looking forwards
Year 1
Christian, Hindu and Sikhi Traditions.
Autumn Term: Ganesha is special to Hindus. Remembering using an Advent Wreath.
Spring Term: Stories Jesus told. Changing emotions during the Christian Easter story.
Summer Term: Birth stories and celebrations. Church as a community.
Year 2
Christian, Sikhi and Hindu Traditions.
Autumn Term: Brahman the creator and creation stories. Elizabeth, Mary and the Magi believed.
Autumn Term: Community in the Sikhi Faith. Christian Baptisms and other initiations.
Summer Term: Krishna’s birthday Janmashtami Love for enemies, linking to the civil rights movement.