Religious Education
RE Curriculum
Subject Lead: Mrs L de Moraville
Intent
Christianity plays a central role in the school. 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.
It plays an important role, along with all other curriculum areas, particularly PSHE, in promoting social awareness and understanding in our children. We encourage our pupils to ask questions about the world and to reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences. We include and promote British values, ensuring that children are aware of their rights and responsibilities as UK citizens.
Implementation
At Hever School we use the ‘Understanding Christianity’ Syllabus, which focuses on Christianity 'The Big Story of the Bible’. In addition, the school uses the Kent locally agreed syllabus ‘World Faith’ units to study World Faith Stories, Humanism, Judaism, Islam, Sikhi, and Hindu Dharma. The long term overview for the RE curriculum is set out below.
Our creative approach to teaching RE includes drama, music, film clips, art, and kinaesthetic reflective activities which inspire and engage our pupils. We also use the school’s Christian Values to support our RE teaching. The pupils say that they enjoy RE and they participate enthusiastically in lessons.
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 pupils take part, and pupils regularly support and lead worship. As well as visiting St Peter’s Church, all pupils will have had the opportunity to experience other places of worship by the time they leave Hever. Visitors, including our reverend, are also invited to answer searching questions from the pupils. The pupils are encouraged to help the wider community and to support charities, for example by donating Harvest Festival gifts and holding fundraising events for charity.
Pupils 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 where children are encouraged to reflect on the termly values.
Our school environment is founded on strong Christian principles and values. Through our Christian values we hope to aid the pupils’ 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.
Impact
The children at Hever enjoy learning about other religions and why people choose, or choose not to follow a religion. Through their R.E. learning, the children are able to make links between their own lives and those of others in their community and in the wider world, developing an understanding of other people’s cultures and ways of life. As such, RE is invaluable in an ever changing world.