Religious Education
Why RE matters at Sheering
Religious Education plays a vital role in our curriculum, enabling pupils to explore life's big questions, develop understanding of diverse beliefs and worldviews, and learn to live well together in our diverse society.
Through RE, our pupils:
- Develop deep knowledge and understanding of Christianity as a living world faith
- Learn about other major world religions and non-religious worldviews
- Explore life's big questions about meaning, purpose and belief
- Develop respect and empathy for people of all faiths and none
- Think critically and express their views confidently
- Prepare for life in modern, multi-cultural Britain
The Church of England Statement of Entitlement
As a Church of England school, we are committed to providing RE that meets the Church of England's Statement of Entitlement for Religious Education.
This means every pupil at Sheering is entitled to:
✓ A systematic and in-depth study of Christianity - exploring the Bible, Christian beliefs, practices and values
✓ Engagement with a range of world religions and worldviews - including Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Humanism
✓ A coherent, progressive curriculum that builds knowledge systematically over time
✓ Engaging, challenging teaching that enables personal reflection and critical thinking
✓ RE that contributes to spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
Our RE curriculum
Understanding Christianity
We use Understanding Christianity as a key resource for teaching about Christianity. This high-quality resource:
- Provides a theologically robust approach to learning about Christianity
- Explores core Christian concepts including God, Creation, Incarnation, Gospel, Salvation and Kingdom of God
- Uses three lenses: Theology (what Christians believe), Philosophy (how Christians think about big questions), Human/Social Sciences (how Christians live)
- Ensures clear progression from Reception to Year 6
- Develops pupils' ability to think theologically
At least 2/3 of our RE curriculum time is dedicated to the study of Christianity.
Essex Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education
We follow the Essex Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education which ensures breadth and balance in the study of religions and worldviews.
Religions and worldviews studied at Sheering:
Reception: Christianity and other faiths through stories and celebrations
Key Stage 1:
- Christianity (Understanding Christianity)
- Judaism
- Islam
Key Stage 2:
- Christianity (Understanding Christianity)
- Judaism
- Islam
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Sikhism
- Humanism (as a non-religious worldview)
Links with Our Christian Values
Through RE, pupils are supported to know about and understand religions and worldviews, express ideas and insights, and reflect on questions of meaning, belief and belonging.
RE is closely connected to our Christian vision and values and helps pupils develop knowledge, understanding and respect in an increasingly diverse world.
Curiosity
RE encourages pupils to ask thoughtful questions about religion and belief. Children explore religious stories, teachings, practices and symbols, developing secure knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other religions and worldviews.
(Linked to Essex outcomes: knowledge and understanding of beliefs, teachings and practices.)
Courage
Pupils are supported to express their own ideas, responses and beliefs with confidence and respect. RE provides opportunities for children to engage with challenging questions, listen to different viewpoints and explain their thinking clearly.
(Linked to Essex outcomes: expressing ideas, responses and insights.)
Compassion
Through learning about how faith influences people’s lives, pupils develop empathy, respect and understanding for others. RE helps children reflect on moral choices, behaviour and responsibility, including themes of kindness, forgiveness and care.
(Linked to Essex outcomes: reflection on values, meaning and impact of belief.)
Community
RE supports pupils in understanding belonging – within faith communities, families and wider society. Children learn how beliefs shape identity, encourage service and promote responsibility towards others.
(Linked to Essex outcomes: understanding lived religion and community impact.)
Through Religious Education, pupils are supported to live out our vision of
“Together we care, belong and grow.”
How we teach RE
The 'Big Questions' approach
Our RE curriculum is structured around big questions that engage pupils' curiosity and enable deep exploration of religious concepts.
Examples of big questions:
- What do Christians believe God is like?
- Why does Christmas matter to Christians?
- What is it like to follow God?
- What does it mean to be a Hindu in Britain today?
- If God is everywhere, why go to a place of worship?
- What difference does the resurrection make to Christians?
High-quality teaching
Our RE lessons include:
Enquiry-based learning - starting with engaging questions that spark curiosity
Sacred texts - exploring the Bible and other religious texts directly
Authentic representation - presenting religions accurately and respectfully
Personal reflection - providing space for pupils to reflect on their own beliefs and experiences
Making connections - linking RE to pupils' lives and other learning
Critical thinking - encouraging pupils to think deeply and ask their own questions
Curriculum time
RE receives at least 5% of curriculum time:
- Reception: RE is integrated into Understanding the World
- Key Stage 1: 1 hour per week
- Key Stage 2: Minimum of 1 hour per week
Inclusion in RE
RE is for all pupils, regardless of their faith background or beliefs.
We recognise that our pupils come from diverse backgrounds:
- Some families are actively Christian
- Some families belong to other faith traditions
- Some families have no religious affiliation
All pupils are welcomed and valued in RE. We ensure that:
- No pupil is required to hold or express particular beliefs
- All pupils are encouraged to think critically and ask questions
- Pupils' own beliefs and experiences are respected
- RE contributes to understanding and respect for diversity
Enrichment and engagement
Visits and visitors
We enrich our RE curriculum through:
Visits to places of worship:
- Regular visits to St Mary's Church, Sheering
- Visits to places of worship of other faiths (mosque, synagogue, temple, gurdwara)
Visitors to school:
- Rev. Sophie Weller leads weekly Collective Worship
- Representatives from different faith communities share their beliefs and practices
- Religious leaders answer pupils' questions
Celebrations and festivals
- We learn about and celebrate Christian festivals (Harvest, Christmas, Easter, Pentecost)
- We learn about festivals from other religions (Diwali, Hanukkah, Eid, Vaisakhi, Wesak)
- We invite families to share their own celebrations and traditions
What pupils say about RE
"I love learning about different religions and what people believe." - Year 4 pupil
"RE makes me think about big questions like 'Why are we here?' and 'What happens when we die?'" - Year 6 pupil
"I like learning about the Bible stories and what they mean to Christians." - Year 3 pupil
"In RE we can share our own ideas and everyone listens to each other." - Year 5 pupil
Assessment and progress
We assess pupils' progress in RE through:
- Questioning and discussion during lessons
- Review of pupils' work in RE books
- End-of-unit assessments
- Teacher assessment against curriculum expectations
We assess pupils' ability to:
- Know and understand religious beliefs, practices and concepts
- Investigate and interpret religious texts and ideas
- Evaluate and reflect on religious and philosophical questions
Parents receive information about their child's progress in RE in annual reports.
Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development
RE makes a significant contribution to pupils' SMSC development:
Spiritual - exploring life's big questions and developing sense of awe and wonder
Moral - understanding concepts of right and wrong from religious perspectives
Social - learning to live well together in a diverse society
Cultural - understanding religion's impact on culture, art, music and literature
Parental engagement
Working in partnership
We value parents' and carers' support in their children's RE learning.
Parents can support RE learning by:
- Discussing RE topics at home
- Sharing their own beliefs and experiences
- Visiting places of worship as a family
- Engaging with big questions together
We keep parents informed through:
- Curriculum information shared at the start of each term
- RE learning celebrated in newsletters
- Invitations to RE-related events and celebrations
Right of withdrawal
Parents have the legal right to withdraw their child from RE lessons.
If you are considering withdrawing your child, we encourage you to:
- Discuss your concerns with the Executive Headteacher
- Visit an RE lesson to see what is taught and how
- Understand that RE is educational, not devotional
To request withdrawal, please put your request in writing to the Executive Headteacher.
RE resources and documents
Understanding Christianity - more information
Church of England Statement of Entitlement for RE
Contact us
RE Subject Leader: Miss Shaw
RE Link Governor: [Name]
If you have any questions about RE at Sheering, please contact:
School Office:
Telephone: 01279 734210
Email: admin@sheering.essex.sch.uk
At Sheering CE Primary School, RE enables pupils to develop religious literacy, think critically about life's big questions, and flourish as respectful, thoughtful members of our diverse society.