Hayward's Primary School

Religious Education

All about RE at Hayward’s…

At Hayward’s, RE is about exploring different worldviews and how they change the way people live, individually, in our community and in the wider world. We are developing the knowledge, understanding and skills we will need to handle the big questions in life and to reflect on our own ideas and life choices.

Our Teaching & Learning Approach:

At Hayward’s, our curriculum is based on the 2024-2029 Devon & Torbay SACRE syllabus. 

  • Each block is designed around a key question & children are given a knowledge organiser with key knowledge & vocabulary at the start of each block.

  • The questions use the term ‘Christians’ rather than ‘Christianity’ as the focus of RE is on the ‘lived experience’ of believers rather than the history and belief structures of traditions. 

  • There is also a focus on the diversity of ‘lived experiences’ within worldviews.

​

The curriculum is comprised of:

Skills 

  • Making connections

Evaluating, reflecting on and making connections between different worldviews and pupils’ own worldviews.

  • Making sense of beliefs

Identifying and making sense of core religious and non-religious worldview beliefs. Including being able to identify sources of authority and different interpretations of these sources.

  • Understanding the impact

Examining how, and why, people put their beliefs into action and the impact of these actions on their own lives, community and wider world.

Knowledge 

  • Substantive knowledge

The subject content of core concepts, teachings, practices and behaviours across worldviews.

  • Ways of knowing

Examining how theological, philosophical, sociological and psychological approaches can help us to understand worldviews.

  • Personal knowledge

Developing the pupil’s knowledge of their own beliefs, assumptions and values which form their worldview.

At Hayward’s RE is:

  • A subject that explores a wide range of religious and non-religious worldviews
  • Inclusive
  • Age-appropriate and fully in-line with the SACRE agreed syllabus for Devon, Cornwall & Torbay.
  • Fun and creative. At KS1, this includes the use of our 4 RE characters: Ash, Annie, Adri & Amira.
  • Linked to the wider school curriculum and values. At Hayward’s, all of our learning is underpinned by our school ethos, embodied in our Hayward’s Hero Characters. The characters represent the values of: honesty, perseverance, maturity, focus and respect. It is recognised that RE is an excellent context through which to develop these skills as well as the wider ‘British Values’ curriculum goals.
  • Taught in line with the PSHE curriculum.
  • Considered to be a genuine opportunity to work on enhancing pupils' self-esteem, confidence and emotional literacy skills.

At Hayward’s RE is not:

  • Used to promote, or convert pupils to any particular set of beliefs or values
  • The same as statutory collective worship.

At Hayward’s we recognise the following legal points in relation to the teaching of religious education:

  • Every pupil has an entitlement to religious education.
  • RE is a necessary part of a ‘broad and balanced curriculum’ and must be provided for all registered pupils in state-funded schools in England.
  • Right to withdrawal: The right to withdraw children from RE was granted historically when the subject took the form of Religious Instruction which carried with it connotations of induction into Christianity. Modern RE in schools is plural, open, broad and explorative in nature.
  • However, parents do retain the right to withdraw their children from RE lessons, or any part of the RE curriculum and the school has the responsibility to supervise them, though not to provide additional teaching or incur extra cost. If a parent wishes to discuss this further, we ask that parents make a formal request by writing to the Head Teacher.

For more information about the purpose of RE in schools, we would recommend the following document written by the National Association of Teachers of RE.

Religious Education Visits & Visitors:

At Hayward’s, we encourage visits from speakers from a range of religious backgrounds. All visitors to the school are asked to sign our Visitor Code of Conduct which makes clear the purpose and scope of their visit. Visits to religious buildings are sensitively and respectfully carried out in-line with school visit policies.

Regular Visitors:

At Hayward's we enjoy regular visits (either in-person or virtually) from 'Bible Storytellers'. 'Bible Storytellers' are a group made up of members of our local church who present Bible Stories to the children in an engaging way, using costumes and visual aids. Some of our pupils even take part in telling the story. We also have regular visits from James Gregory from Crediton Congregational Church.

The Church of the Holy Cross is right across the road. The Church is also kind enough to host our annual Christmas Carol Service and children also take part in the Church's annual Christmas Tree Festival. This year, children from Year Four were also invited to take part in the Easter Experience at the church.

 

 

  1. _Website - Hayward's Syllabus 2024 pdf