RE
Religious Education
RE provokes challenging questions about the 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 develops pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity, other principal religions, other religious traditions and other world views that offer answers to questions such as these, including secular world views. It offers opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development. It enhances pupils’ awareness and understanding of religions and beliefs, teachings, practices and forms of expression, as well as of the influence of religion on individuals, families, communities and cultures.
RE encourages pupils to learn from different beliefs, values and traditions (both religious and nonreligious) while exploring their own beliefs and questions of meaning. It challenges pupils to reflect on, consider, analyse, interpret and evaluate issues of truth, belief, faith and ethics and to communicate their responses. RE encourages pupils to develop their sense of identity and belonging. It enables them to flourish individually within their communities and as citizens in a pluralistic society and global community.
RE has an important role in preparing pupils for adult life, employment and lifelong learning. It enables pupils to develop respect for and sensitivity to others, in particular those whose faiths and beliefs are different from their own. It promotes discernment and enables pupils to combat prejudice.
Cambridgeshire County Council.
RE at Linton Heights Junior School
At Linton Heights Junior School (LHJS) , RE is taught in accordance with The Agreed Syllabus 2018-2023. The aims of the syllabus are for pupils to:
- develop religious literacy (the ability to talk fluently and with understanding about religion and beliefs)
- acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and the other principal religions and world views represented in the UK
- develop an understanding of the influence and beliefs, values and traditions on individuals, communities and cultures
- develop attitudes of respect
- develop the ability to make reasonable and informed judgements about religious issues, with reference to the principal religions and world views represented locally and in the UK.
We teach RE for one full day each half-term. We call these RE days! Each class participates in six RE days each year. In addition to these days, children receive RE enrichment opportunities (such as trips to places of worship, visitors from different faiths and the teaching of RE through other subjects, such as within topic lessons). As a school, we celebrate harvest festival and attend services at Easter and Christmas at St. Mary's Church in our village.
During our RE days, pupils will:
- learn about religion and belief
- learn from religion and belief
The focal areas are:
1. beliefs and practices
2. religious stories
3. diversity
4. ethics
At LHJS, RE is an important curriculum subject. It is important in its own right and also makes a unique contribution to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils; to British Values and the support of wider community cohesion.
In line with The New Agreed Syllabus (2018), we teach all major religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism) and a secular world view (humanism). 50% of our teaching is based on Christianity.
Religions deal with some of the most profound and difficult questions in human life. Religion approaches these issues in complex ways, in ways of life, culture, symbols and beliefs. RE ,must take account of this depth and complexity, helping pupils to an understanding appropriate for their age and aptitude. To do this, RE needs to:
- develop pupils' skills
- enable them to ask questions
- discover information, to approach new material with empathy
- reflect on their learning
We start each RE day with a 'Big Question' which we explore during the day. Our approach is experiential and enquiry based. It encompasses the local, national and international examples of religion. Diversity is explored, similarities and differences within and between religions, humanism and other world views.
Our curriculum is broad and balanced. Children are given opportunities to respond in a variety of ways including dance, music, art, poetry and drama. Each RE day also provides an opportunity for a piece of writing.
Assessment in RE
We assess RE using 'skills Progression Statements' which replicate the End of Year Statements and End of Key Stage 2 statements produced by SACRE.
On Friday 2nd November, year 3 and year 5 visited 'The Bible Comes to Life' exhibition held at Linton Free Church. We saw unique materials such as: Torah scrolls, Middle Eastern clothing, models of the Tabernacles and Temple. We also met Biblical characters and heard them tell their stories. This was a great opportunity to see, touch and smell the world of the Bible.
In our recent RE day, Year 3 have been thinking about the question: 'How do people know they belong?'
Rev. Alex Jacob visited and talked to Year 3 about the Jewish faith and how aspects, such as clothing and food, help Jewish people know they belong. We saw lots of interesting artefacts (prayer shawls, a wedding hat, Kippah, a special plate, Jewish Bible and scroll) and got to 'model' some of them. Enjoy our photos! We had so much fun.
Remembrance Service
The Linton Heights choir took part in the Service of Remembrance held at St. Mary's Church on Sunday 10th November. Thank you to all those who took part and for taking on the responsible role of representing our school at such an important occasion.