In line with the National Curriculum and the Six Key Questions of the Barnsley Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education we have developed our HCAT RE curriculum. At WGPS children learn about a variety of religions and social development points throughout their time at school. The HCAT progressive document supports the progression of knowledge and skills a child should learn and how children revisit knowledge and skills to ensure depth and rigour over time
RE in school provides a balance of opportunities for children to learn about, and learn from, religion. We believe that learning from religion provides huge scope for developing children’s spirituality. As a school, we wholeheartedly believe that a high-quality religious education, which promotes a celebration of all cultures and religions, centred around spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development is essential in promoting strong shared values among children as well as a knowledge and respect for different people's faiths, feelings and values.
At WGPS, the RE coverage for each half term has been carefully planned to ensure that all six major world religious are covered in all year groups each term. This ensures that the content of each session is purposeful, meaningful and has a relevant context for our children to engage with.
At WGPS RE is taught discretely and it is delivered to raise interest, self-esteem, creativity and aspirations of all our children. The curriculum is rich and varied, which provides our pupils with the skills required for life in the 21st Century.
Within a sequence of RE lessons children would be given chance to explore religions through 6 key questions to ensure continuity and progression in each year group. The questions are designed to guide and shape pupils' learning in RE across the years of schooling. Pupils begin by handling the key questions very simply, moving on to learn about and respond to religious objects and ideas, to describe for themselves, to analyse information, and increasingly to develop the ability to draw thoughtful and balanced conclusions.
The Accelerated Learning Cycle, based on the work of Alastair Smith, is applied in all lessons. It stems from the idea of a supportive and challenging learning environment. The cycle has active engagement through multi-sensory learning, encourages the demonstrating understanding of learning in a variety of ways and the consolidation of knowing.
Formative assessment is ongoing throughout each lesson. It judges progress and enables teachers to make flexible adaptions to their planned teaching.
Through this regular ongoing assessment, tasks are matched to the ability of each child through differentiated activities, adult support, providing a level of challenge that is stimulating for pupils and questioning skills.
INSIGHT is used as a summative assessment to assess foundation subjects. The curriculum is regularly reviewed to identify any gaps or misconceptions to be addressed or passed on to the following teachers.
Credits:
Created with an image by Khunatorn - "Faith, spirituality and religion concept. Oil lamp in candle shape light in church or temple. Vesak or Buddha Purnima and Buddha Day for Buddhists."