Religious Education

At Christ Church C of E Primary School, our Religious Education curriculum is designed to be rich, engaging and inclusive for all pupils. We follow the Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus.

Through this curriculum, children explore a wide range of religious and non-religious worldviews, helping them to understand themselves, their community and the wider world. Through a bespoke spiral curriculum, children build securely on prior learning and engage in high-quality, creative and challenging lessons that are fully inclusive of all learners. Religious Education at Christ Church School supports pupils in developing Global Awareness by examining contemporary issues in Britain and across the world.

We aim to develop pupils who are globally aware, open-minded and ready to play a positive role in a diverse and multicultural society. Our curriculum focuses on three key areas:

• Making sense of religious and non-religious beliefs
• Understanding the impact of these beliefs on individuals and communities
• Making connections between beliefs, concepts and practices

Our Implementation

Our teaching is shaped by the Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus. Each year group follows a clear sequence of lessons that builds knowledge, encourages curiosity and supports personal growth. Teaching will encompass learning and progression of skills in three key areas per year, Expressing, Believing and Living.

As a Christian school, we provide children with a strong understanding of Christianity by exploring the ‘big story’ of the Bible and key Christian concepts. Pupils learn to interpret biblical texts and understand their meaning for Christians today.

In EYFS and Key Stage 1, children begin to explore different religions through celebrations, rituals and stories.
In Key Stage 2, pupils deepen their knowledge by studying major world religions and world views in more detail, including their origins, teachings and practices.

Across all key stages, we place strong emphasis on personal and spiritual development, reflection and community cohesion. Unit overviews from the Agreed syllabus guide progression, challenge and differentiation. End-of-unit assessments support teachers in identifying attainment and next steps. Key vocabulary is mapped to ensure progression in subject knowledge and conceptual understanding.

Our school benefits from being able to visit a range of places of religious significance and we invite visitors from both the local and school community in to enhance the RE provision. The children also have access to various religious artefacts which brings learning to life for our pupils. Handling real objects helps children understand how different faiths are lived and practised, encourages curiosity, and supports respectful attitudes towards diverse beliefs. These hands-on experiences make learning memorable, deepen understanding of key vocabulary and concepts, and help children develop empathy, cultural awareness and thoughtful reflection.

Through our strong partnership with nearby Christ Church, all children benefit greatly from learning experiences and insights into more challenging Christian concepts offered by the church staff. This includes Bible and ‘Big Questions’ clubs which are open to all ages run at lunchtime.

Our Impact

By the time children leave Christ Church School, they have a secure understanding of major world religions, including Christianity, and can speak confidently about their ideas, beliefs and values.

Our RE curriculum helps children:

• develop respect, tolerance and understanding
• think deeply about spiritual, moral and cultural issues
• understand their place in the world
• appreciate the diversity of modern British society

Pupils demonstrate their learning through thoughtful discussions, written work and creative projects such as art, drama and presentations. They learn to use accurate religious vocabulary and express their views with clarity and respect.

Above all, we want children to enjoy their RE lessons and recognise how Religious Education supports their personal, social and spiritual growth now and for shaping them into thoughtful, informed and respectful citizens in the future.

 Entitlement to Religious Education Statement