Religious Education (RE) is taught through an inclusive, multi-sensory, and experiential curriculum that enables pupils to explore faith, belief, and community in ways that are meaningful and accessible. Our teaching supports pupils in developing a sense of identity, belonging, and respect for others, while promoting curiosity about the wider world. We focus on making concepts concrete and relatable, adapting approaches to suit a wide range of learning needs, communication styles, and sensory profiles.

We introduce pupils to religious and cultural traditions through stories, celebrations, symbols, artefacts, music, food, and visits, creating memorable and relevant learning experiences. RE is closely linked to pupils’ personal development, supporting their understanding of values such as kindness, respect, fairness, and empathy.

Through engaging and accessible activities, pupils develop the ability to:

• Recognise and explore key symbols, artefacts, and practices from different faiths and cultures.
• Engage with simple religious stories and teachings through sensory experiences, drama, and adapted texts.
• Identify similarities and differences between their own experiences and those of others.
• Begin to understand that people have different beliefs, practices, and traditions, and show curiosity or respect for them.
• Use visual supports, symbols, role play, and repetition to build religious and moral vocabulary.
• Participate in celebrations and rituals (e.g. light festivals, shared meals) to understand the role of faith in community life.
• Communicate their understanding and responses through speech, signing, drawing, role play, or digital media.

Our progression moves pupils from concrete experiences (e.g. recognising a candle as a symbol of light or reflection) towards more abstract ideas such as belief, belonging, and values — always paced to individual learners’ needs.

We ensure regular opportunities for overlearning, recall, and cross-curricular links (e.g. with PSHE, music, and art) to embed knowledge and skills. By drawing on a diverse range of faiths, local community links, and global celebrations, we aim to promote inclusivity, tolerance, and a sense of belonging.

Ultimately, our implementation of RE ensures that every pupil has access to meaningful experiences that allow them to:

• Develop awareness of different faiths, cultures, and communities.
• Foster respect, empathy, and curiosity about the beliefs of others.
• Reflect on values and experiences that shape their own lives and those of people around them.

We are committed to providing a broad and balanced curriculum, including Religious Education (RE), which aims to promote religious literacy and cultural diversity. However, we also recognise the right of parents/carers to withdraw their child from RE lessons.

Parents/carers have a legal right to withdraw their child, either wholly or partly, from:

• Receiving religious education (RE) given in the school in accordance with the school’s basic curriculum.
• Attendance at religious worship in the school.

We encourage parents/carers considering withdrawal to contact the Co-headteacher’s to arrange a discussion about our RE curriculum. This will provide an opportunity to understand the content covered, our aims in promoting religious literacy and cultural diversity, and to address any concerns you may have. We can offer to show you our locally agreed syllabus, learning objectives, and examples of lessons.

While we are not generally supportive of selective withdrawal from parts of RE, we will grant a request for partial withdrawal if this is your wish.

Requests for withdrawal should preferably be made in writing to ensure a clear record. Once a request for withdrawal is made, we will discuss the practical implications and make appropriate arrangements, ensuring that the school does not incur any extra cost and that this time is not used for other curriculum subjects. Please be aware that while your child will be supervised during this time, the school is not required to provide alternative education.

It is good practice for us to review withdrawals from RE with parents annually.

Please note that the right to withdraw applies specifically to RE and religious worship, and does not extend to other curriculum areas where religious topics may be explored, such as religious art in an art lesson or the study of evolution in science.

We believe that RE plays an important role in the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural (SMSC) development of children and the promotion of Fundamental British Values. By understanding different religions and beliefs, our students can develop tolerance, respect, and empathy for others. We showcase the enriching activities within RE through parents’ evenings, assemblies, displays, and information on our website.

If you wish to discuss withdrawing your child from RE, please contact one of the Co-headteacher’s to arrange a meeting at your earliest convenience. We are committed to working with parents to ensure the best possible educational experience for all our students.