At Paddox Primary School, we believe that Religious Education (RE) equips pupils for life in a diverse world and provides opportunities for exploring meaningful questions about life, beliefs, values and worldviews. Using the Coventry & Warwickshire Agreed Syllabus 2024-2029 as our curriculum framework, we aim to help all children to develop knowledge and understanding of a diverse range of faiths and worldviews, as well as to reflect on their own ideas, values and worldviews.
In line with the Coventry and Warwickshire Agreed Syllabus, our RE provision intends that pupils will:
- Know about and understand a range of religious and non-religious worldviews, recognising both similarities and differences.
- Understand how beliefs, values, practices and ways of life influence individuals and communities.
- Explore meaningful questions about identity, meaning, purpose, ethics and beliefs, applying different disciplines – theology, philosophy, human and social sciences and history, in studying religion and worldviews.
- Develop the ability to reflect on, respond to and evaluate their own and others’ worldviews.
- Engage respectfully and thoughtfully with religious and non-religious worldviews and contribute positively to our diverse society.
Our curriculum is inclusive and carefully sequenced to meet the needs of all learners, including those with SEND, ensuring every child can access and benefit from RE learning.
Our RE provision follows the Coventry and Warwickshire Agreed Syllabus 2024-2029, which provides a statutory framework for RE, operating spirally to introduce and re-introduce seven core concepts and worldviews. The Agreed Syllabus takes a worldviews-based approach rather than only traditional religious study, as part of a national move to teach Religious Education not as a survey of world religions but as a “deep dive” into Religion and Worldviews of many kinds. It shifts the emphasis from simply explaining the beliefs and practices of the major world faiths to exploring, through the academic disciplines, religion and non-religion in the 21st century.
The seven core concepts:
- Belonging & Believing
- Wisdom & Guidance
- Personal Responsibility
- Living Well
- Authority & Power
- Changes
- Grand Narratives
RE is delivered as a spiral curriculum, with core concepts being revisited and deepened through Early Years, Key Stage 1, Lower Key Stage 2 and Upper Key Stage 2. From Early Years onwards, planning ensures progression in disciplinary knowledge (theology, philosophy, human and social sciences, history) and key skills of enquiry, interpretation and evaluation.
Teaching units for each year group are detailed on our Paddox Religious Education Whole School Overview. Each unit begins with an overarching question and the relevant disciplinary lenses and core concepts are identified. Sub-questions and learning objectives in each unit guide planning, as well as relevant vocabulary, knowledge and skills. Teachers adapt content to meet the needs of all pupils, ensuring tasks are inclusive and accessible.
RE lessons provide opportunities for enquiry, dialogue, reflection and expression. Pupils are encouraged to share their own views and to listen and respond respectfully to those of others. A range of activities and approaches are used, including:
- Discussion
- Use of artefacts
- Visits and visitors
- Role-play
- Reflection
- Use of multimedia.
- Cross-curricular links are used where appropriate, e.g., linking RE to SMSC, PSHE, History.
We use the Agreed Syllabus guidance documents, approved units derived from it and supplementary resources, including artefacts, visitor programmes and digital media, that reflect the diversity of religions and worldviews.
Parents of pupils in a maintained school have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of Religious Education provision and should discuss this with the headteacher.
The impact of our RE curriculum is that pupils will leave Paddox Primary School as reflective, informed, respectful and responsible individuals who are well prepared for the next stage of their education and life beyond school.
Pupils will:
- Develop a deeper understanding of religions and worldviews and how beliefs influence people’s lives.
- Gain an appreciation of diversity, recognising that individuals may express beliefs and practices in different ways.
- Challenge stereotypes and misconceptions through the study of lived experiences and real-life case studies.
- Build critical thinking and enquiry skills by exploring different perspectives.
- Develop the ability to ask thoughtful questions, analyse evidence and evaluate viewpoints.
- Increase religious and worldview literacy, to understand the role of beliefs in our society.
- Strengthen understanding of identity, belonging and personal values through reflection on their own and others’ worldviews.
- Develop empathy, respect and tolerance towards people with different beliefs, cultures and backgrounds.
- Become more prepared for life in a diverse and multicultural society, contributing positively to their communities.
- Develop the knowledge and skills needed to become citizens.
Impact is monitored through:
- ongoing teacher assessment and observations
- pupil voice and discussions
- book looks and work scrutiny
- responding to updates or revisions from the Coventry & Warwickshire SACRE.
RE Roadmap