R.E
The Aims of Religious Education
Religious education should help pupils to:
- acquire and develop a knowledge and understanding of Christianity and the other principal religions represented in Great Britain;
- develop an understanding of the influence of beliefs, values and traditions on the way people live;
- enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development by:
(i) developing awareness of the fundamental questions of life raised by human experiences and how religious teachings relate to them;
(ii) responding to such questions with reference to the teachings and practices of other religions and to their own understanding and experience;
(iii) reflecting on their own beliefs, values and experiences in the light of their study;
- develop the ability to come to reasoned and informed opinions about religious and moral issues, making specific but not necessarily exclusive reference to the teachings of the principal religions represented in Great Britain;
- develop positive attitudes towards other people, respecting their right to hold different beliefs from their own, and towards living in a religiously diverse society.
These aims are linked to the two attainment targets (AT1 & AT2) for religious education specified in this Agreed Syllabus namely :
AT1 Knowledge and understanding of religion. Learning about religions.
AT2 Exploring and responding to religious and moral issues. Learning from religion.
The Focus for the Content of The Religious Education Curriculum in the London Borough Of Merton
The Education Reform Act 1988 requires that the Agreed Syllabus, and the religious education teaching which is developed from it, ‘reflects the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian whilst taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain’. Consequently, when schools are developing their schemes of work for religious education, they should take this into account and plan accordingly.
This Agreed Syllabus requires schools to provide suitable opportunities for the study of Christianity and the other principal religions represented in Great Britain. It assumes that the principal religions represented in Great Britain are Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. Please note that Christianity should be addressed in each school during each key stage.
At Garfield Primary, we abide by the Merton R.E Agreed Syllabus. We teach the contents of Merton’s syllabus using a Religion and Worldviews scheme of work and planning documents that highlight alignment enable us to bridge any gaps and ensure full coverage.
Please read the attached documents for details of the R.E curriculum taught in our school: