At Highcliffe, we highly value the importance that Religious Education has within school and its impact on building resilience and tolerance. Religious Education at Highcliffe is taught in line with the agreed syllabus provided by the local authority. High quality teaching and resources promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils. Children from year 1-6 are taught about a variety of different religions, as well as Christianity as the main religion within Great Britain. Children learn about religion, as well identifying what we can learn from religion.
Teaching from years 1-6 focuses on 6 key concepts which aim to deepen children’s understanding and knowledge; beliefs, teaching and sources, practices and way of life, expressing meaning, identify, diversity and belonging, meaning, purpose and truth, and finally value and commitments. These concepts are taught through ‘bigger picture’ questions to provoke critical thinking, as well as educational visits to different places of worship.
RE Curriculum Overview
| Autumn | Spring | Summer |
| Year 1 | ||
| Who am I and why am I special? How and why do Christians celebrate harvest? What does it mean to belong in Christianity? Why are gifts given at Christmas? | Why is Jesus special to Christians? Why is Easter special for Christians? | How do Jews worship at home? How do both Jews and Christians think the world was created? |
| Year 2 | ||
| How and why do Christians care for others? How and why do Jews celebrate Sukkot? How and why is Christmas a festival of light? | Why is Moses important to Jews? Why is the Bible special for Christians? How do Christians celebrate Easter? | What can we learn from visiting a church? What can we learn from the story of a saint? |
| Year 3 | ||
| What do Hindus believe about God? How and why do Hindus worship at home and in the Mandir? Why is Advent important to Christians? | What do miracles tell us about who Jesus was? What do Christians remember on Palm Sunday? | Why are holy books important? How do Jesus’ parables help Christians live their lives? |
| Year 4 | ||
| Why do religions have rules? How and why do Hindus celebrate Divali? How do Christians celebrate Christmas today? | How and why do religious people pray? Why is Lent such an important time for Christians? | What can we learn about symbols and beliefs from visiting religious buildings? What do religions say about the environment? |
| Year 5 | ||
| Why is Muhammad important to Muslims? What is the Qur’an and why is it important to Muslims? Why is the birth of Jesus important to Christians? | Why do people travel to sacred places? What happened at the Last Supper? | What do Christians believe about God? Why and how do Christians celebrate Pentecost? How do Christian groups differ in their expression of faith? |
| Year 6 | ||
| Why is Buddha important for Buddhists? How do Buddhist beliefs affect the way Buddhists live their lives? What do the gospels tell us about the birth of Jesus? | How do religions respond to prejudice and discrimination? Why are Good Friday and Easter Day the most important days for Christians? | How and why do some religious people inspire others? What do religions believe about life after death? |
