Statement of Intent

At Rosehill Junior School, we believe that it is important for all our pupils to learn from and about religion, so that they can understand the world around them. The aim of Religious Education in our school is to help children to acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and the other principal religions represented in Great Britain; to appreciate the way that religious beliefs shape life and behaviour, develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues and enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Religious Education is taught throughout the school in such a way as to reflect the overall aims, values, and philosophy of the school, through topics such as in everyday life.

It plays an important role, along with all other curriculum areas, particularly PSHCE, in promoting social awareness and understanding in our children. We encourage our pupils to ask questions about the world and to reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences. We include and promote British values, ensuring that children are aware of their rights and responsibilities as UK citizens.

Statement of Implementation

We use the Rotherham Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (2021-2026) developed by SACRA, as the basis for our curriculum and, at Rosehill Junior School, it has been agreed that having taken into account the requirements and guidelines presented in the Agreed Syllabus, the following religions have been selected for study: 

• Christianity (all year groups)

• Islam (UKS)

• Hinduism (LKS)

When appropriate, Rosehill Junior School also raises awareness of 

• Buddhism

• Sikhism

• Judaism

Christianity is studied (and two other principal religions in some depth)

During this key stage, pupils are taught the knowledge, skills and understanding through deeper inquiry into known religions and in Year 6, encounter secular world views. Pupils in Year 5 and Year 6 consider the impact of beliefs and practices in greater detail and respond to more philosophical questions.

There are no presumptions made as to the religious backgrounds and beliefs and values of the children and the staff.  We value the religious background of all members of the school community and hope that this will encourage individuals to share their own experiences with others freely.  All religions and their communities are treated with respect and sensitivity and we value the links, which are, and can be made between home, school, and a faith community.  

At Rosehill we know how relationships with members of the local community and local faith communities can enrich pupils’ experiences in RE and we strive to cultivate and develop these relationships.

Rosehill recognises and values the religious backgrounds and non-religious backgrounds of each of our pupils. We intend to be sensitive to the home background of all and therefore work to ensure that RE is accessible to all pupil and staff of any religious persuasion or none.

We acknowledge that each religion studied can contribute to the education of all our pupils.  We promote teaching in Religious Education that stresses open enquiry and first-hand experiences wherever possible for both staff and children. 

Learning about religion and belief

• Explore and comment on the key aspects of religions, believer’s lives, their stories and traditions and their influence

• Explore how practices are related to beliefs and teachings

• Interpret information about religion and religious beliefs through a range of sources

• Recognise similarities and differences within and between religions

• Consider how religious and spiritual ideas are expressed

• Describe and begin to encounter religious and other responses to ultimate questions and ethical or moral issues

• Use a developed religious vocabulary when discussing and expressing their knowledge and understanding

Learning from religion and belief

• Reflect on what it means to belong to a faith community and how this relates to them and others’ lives

• Recognise how religious practice is conducted in a variety of ways

• Discuss their own and other’s views of religious truth and belief

• Reflect on morality and how people respond to decisions they are faced with

• Reflect on sources of information and what they find value in in their own and other’s lives

 

We acknowledge that each religion studied can contribute to the education of all our pupils.  We promote teaching in Religious Education that stresses open enquiry and first-hand experiences wherever possible for both staff and children. We have a strong understanding of how RE can play a leading role in pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Our curriculum is designed to encourage creativity, imagination, enquiry, debate, discussion and independence.

Experiences and enrichment opportunities include 

• handling artefacts

• exploring scared texts

• using imaginative play or drama to express feelings and ideas

• responding to images, games, stories, art, music and dance

• meeting visitors from local religious communities

• making visits to religious places of worship where possible, and where not, making use of videos and the internet

• taking part in whole school events (Harvest Festival, school performances)

• participating in moments of quiet reflection

• participating in assemblies

• using ICT to further explore religion and belief globally

• comparing religions and worldviews through discussion

• debating and communicating religious belief, worldviews and philosophical ideas and answering and asking ultimate questions posed by these

Right of Withdrawal

Parents (including carers and legal guardians) retain the right to withdraw their child/ren from any form of Religious Education under the 1988 Education Reform Act.

Where a parent/s are wishing to exercise this right The Governing Board would first suggest that the parent initially meets with the head teacher to discuss their concern/s. If the matter cannot be resolved the parent would then need to apply, in writing, to withdraw their child/ren from RE lesson/s. The Governing Board will make arrangements with the head teacher for the child/ren to be supervised and engaged in an alternative activity during the time of the RE lesson/s. At Rosehill staff are mindful that everyone holds different beliefs, are respectful and this is taken into consideration in RE lessons.