Why is RE important in our school?  

At Sudley Primary School, we believe RE is an important part of our curriculum as it celebrates diversity, developing children’s empathy, sensitivity and understanding which supports our core values of being respectful and reflective. We believe that learning about each other’s faiths and traditions - the connections between these faiths and their impact on the wider society - is the foundation of our RE curriculum.  

We recognise that parents have the right to withdraw their child from Religious Education – in its entirety or in part. If this situation arises, please contact school to discuss necessary arrangements. 

What are the aims of teaching RE? 

In Religious Education, we aim to teach children about different faiths reflected in our diverse school community. We believe that learning about each other’s faiths and traditions-the connections between these faiths and their impact on the wider society- is the foundation of our RE curriculum. We believe that through this curriculum children will not only develop understanding, respect and tolerance of the beliefs of others but also a growing awareness of their own, personal beliefs and values as they respond to the curriculum. 

How is RE is taught in our school? 

We achieve our aims in Religious Education in our lessons by systematically delivering knowledge and understanding of Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. Our curriculum is designed to build upon prior learning, allowing children to make connections between their existing knowledge and new concepts, which helps to strengthen their understanding of religious beliefs, practices, and values.  

Every unit of work is based upon a key question to be explored in the subsequent lessons. Through discussion-based activities, children learn tolerance, empathy and sensitivity. The children are also able to explore different faiths and how faith members worship through art, drama and music, including sharing and reflecting on their own experiences. Our teaching methods support knowledge retention, ensuring that pupils not only gain factual knowledge but also learn how to apply it in different contexts. We place a strong emphasis on cumulative knowledge, encouraging pupils to revisit and reinforce key ideas through retrieval questioning at the beginning and reflection at the end of each lesson. This approach supports the development of vocabulary specific to religious studies, enabling children to articulate their understanding clearly and confidently.  

Children are encouraged to explore traditions by using technology to research festivals, places of worship and holy books. The Liverpool RE syllabus is followed from Year 1-6 as agreed by Liverpool Local Authority SACRE.  

In RE, we are committed to ensuring that all children, including those with additional needs, have equal access to the full curriculum. To achieve this, we implement a variety of tailored strategies and support structures, designed to meet each child’s unique needs. These include specialised resources, such adapted learning materials and approaches as well as scaffolded support to help students engage fully with the RE curriculum. 

What will children get from the teaching of RE? 

Through the children’s studies of RE, they will be able to describe and make connections between the features of world religions, recognise symbols, traditions and customs in different religions and describe their meaning and significance to faith communities.  

Children will be able to understand and use important vocabulary and concepts. This enables them to confidently articulate their thoughts and opinions on religious topics, giving a well-rounded education supporting their moral and social development. Children will become thoughtful, open-minded, and respectful individuals.