RE Curriculum
Subject Lead: Mrs M Draper
Christianity plays a central role in the school. The school uses the Rochester Diocesan Board of Education's "Understanding Christianity" Syllabus, which focuses on Christianity in Key Stage One so that the children understand the core beliefs before exploring other faiths. Key Stage Two study Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism. The outline syllabus is set out in the table below.
Our creative approach includes drama, music, film clips, art, cookery and kinaesthetic reflective activities which inspires and engages the children.We also use the school’s Christian Values to support our RE teaching. The children say that they enjoy RE and they participate enthusiastically in singing hymns and Christmas carols and the nativity play is a highlight of the year!
Our school works very closely with St Peter’s Church and both benefit from the strong relationship. Collective worship takes place during daily assemblies. Teachers and children take part, and children regularly lead the worship. As well as visiting St Peter’s Church (not just for weekly acts of worship but for investigations too), all children will have had the opportunity to experience a city church, a mosque, a Gurdwara and a synagogue by the time they leave the school. Visitors, including our rector, are also invited to answer searching questions from the children. The children are encouraged to help the wider community and to support charities, for example by donating Harvest Festival gifts and holding fundraising events.
Children are not just asked to join in listening to prayer, but to understand the power and role of prayer, and when possible, to write and create their own prayers. Prayer is encouraged by a “reflection corner” in each classroom – a place where the children can spend a few minutes thinking and talking to God.
Our school environment is founded on strong Christian principles and values. Through our Christian values we hope to aid the children’s understanding of the world in which we live, their part in making our world a more peaceful and tolerant place, and for those who wish to, we provide the opportunity to explore and develop their spirituality.
Leading Lights
A group of year 5 and 6 children, known as our ‘Leading Lights’, regularly contribute to our Worship in St Peter’s Church, in assembly and in class.
Diocesan syllabus overview (VA schools)
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Term 1 |
Term 2 |
Term 3 |
Term 4 |
Term 5 |
Term 6 |
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Reception |
BEING SPECIAL OR CREATION Why is the word ‘God’ so important to Christians?
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INCARNATION Why do Christians perform Nativity plays at Christmas?
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BEING SPECIAL OR CREATION Why is the word ‘God’ so important to Christians?
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SALVATION Why do Christians put a cross in an Easter garden?
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What can we learn from Old Testament stories? |
What do Christians believe is special about Jesus and the message that he brings? |
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Year 1 |
GOD What do Christians believe that God is like? |
INCARNATION Why does Christmas matter to Christians? CORE LEARNING
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GOSPEL What is the good news that Jesus brings? CORE LEARNING |
SALVATION Why does Easter matter to Christians? CORE LEARNING
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What stories are told by and about people of different faiths and beliefs? |
What stories are told by and about people of different faiths and beliefs? |
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Year 2 |
CREATION Who made the world? |
INCARNATION Why does Christmas matter to Christians? DIGGING DEEPER |
GOSPEL What is the good news that Jesus brings? DIGGING DEEPER
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SALVATION Why does Easter matter to Christians? DIGGING DEEPER
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JUDAISM What special times and people do Jewish people remember and celebrate? |
JUDAISM What special times and people do Jewish people remember and celebrate? |
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Year 3 |
PEOPLE OF GOD What is it like to follow God?
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INCARNATION What is the Trinity? CORE LEARNING
Christmas 2 lessons
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SIKHISM What is important for Sikh people? |
SALVATION Why do Christians call the day Jesus died ‘Good Friday’? CORE LEARNING
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KINGDOM OF GOD When Jesus left, what was the impact of Pentecost?
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SIKHISM How do Sikh people worship and celebrate? |
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Year 4 |
CREATION What do Christians learn from the Creation story?
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INCARNATION What is the Trinity? DIGGING DEEPER
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GOSPEL What kind of a world did Jesus want?
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SALVATION Why do Christians call the day Jesus died ‘Good Friday’? DIGGING DEEPER
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HINDUISM What do Hindu people believe about God? |
HINDUISM How do Hindu people worship and celebrate? |
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Year 5 |
GOD What does it mean if God is loving and holy? |
INCARNATION Was Jesus the Messiah? CORE LEARNING
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PEOPLE OF GOD How can following God bring freedom and justice?
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SALVATION What did Jesus do to save human beings?
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ISLAM What do Muslim people believe about the way they should live their lives and why? |
ISLAM What do Muslim people believe about the way they should live their lives and why? |
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Year 6 |
CREATION Creation and science: conflicting or complementary? in the wider context of ‘Big Questions’ |
INCARNATION Was Jesus the Messiah? DIGGING DEEPER
Christmas 2 lessons
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GOSPEL What would Jesus do? |
SALVATION What difference does the resurrection make for Christians?
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BUDDHISM What do Buddhists believe about the way they should live their lives and why? |
KINGDOM OF GOD What kind of king is Jesus?
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