Religious Education

At Gorsefield Primary School, we follow NATRE RE Today Religious Education Curriculum. As a community school belonging to a Church of England Trust, in addition to Christianity, we study a wide range of other faiths including Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism.

Our long-term overview is available to view here.

By the end of EYFS pupils will demonstrate the following:

Expressing Their Own Ideas: Children will begin to talk about their own experiences, feelings, and what is important to them (e.g., family, celebrations, or objects they find special). They may express a sense of belonging to a family, community, or group (e.g., “I go to church” or “My family celebrates Eid”).
Talking About Special People: Children will recognise and talk about important people in their lives (family members, religious figures like Jesus or the Prophet Muhammad, or people in their community). They will engage with simple religious stories, such as the story of Christmas or Noah’s Ark, and begin to retell or respond to them through creative play or drawing.
Recognising Religious Festivals: Children will demonstrate an awareness of different religious festivals, such as Christmas, Diwali, or Ramadan, and understand that these are special times for certain people. They may take part in activities related to these celebrations, such as making cards, listening to music, or joining in on a simple celebration at school.
Naming Special Places: Children will start to recognise and name places of worship (e.g., church, mosque, temple) and understand that people go there to pray or reflect. They will have opportunities to explore religious artefacts or objects (e.g., candles, prayer mats, crosses) and will be able to talk about what makes them special.
Respecting Differences: Children will begin to understand that different people have different beliefs, practices, and celebrations. They will show respect for these differences, often through simple actions like listening to peers or handling religious objects with care. They will show empathy and respect by learning how to share with others, particularly during discussions or activities that highlight kindness, fairness, and understanding.
Asking and Responding to Big Questions: In a way appropriate for their age, children will begin to ask and respond to simple “big” questions about life, such as “Who made the world?” or “Why do we celebrate certain things? Through exploring the world around them, they will demonstrate a sense of wonder, often expressed through their curiosity about natural phenomena or religious practices, and may link this to questions about creation, God, or the meaning of life.
Role-Playing Religious Stories or Celebrations: Children will engage in imaginative play where they take on roles from religious stories or act out festivals (e.g., pretending to be Mary and Joseph, or lighting candles for Diwali). They might express their understanding of religious stories or concepts through art, music, or drama, such as drawing scenes from a religious story or creating crafts related to a festival.
Understanding Right and Wrong: Through stories and activities, children will begin to understand moral concepts like kindness, sharing, and fairness. For example, they might learn about the importance of helping others through a story like the Good Samaritan. They will show compassion and care for others in their actions, perhaps through small gestures or by participating in classroom activities that emphasise caring for others.
Talking About What Matters to Them: Children will reflect on and talk about their own experiences, such as a family celebration, and connect this to what they are learning about religious celebrations or special moments for others. They will begin to articulate their feelings and those of others, such as happiness during a celebration or empathy when someone is upset, relating this to what they are learning in religious stories.
Using Religious Language: Children will begin to use simple religious language, such as the names of religious figures (God, Jesus, Allah), places of worship, and terms related to religious celebrations (e.g., prayer, festival). They will be able to describe, in simple terms, practices they have learned about, such as prayer, lighting candles, or giving gifts during religious festivals.

By the end of Key Stage 1 pupils will demonstrate the following:

Recognising Key Beliefs: Children will be able to identify and describe some key beliefs of major world religions, such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, etc. For example, they may understand that Christians believe in God and Jesus, or that Muslims believe in Allah and follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. They will demonstrate an understanding of common religious practices such as prayer, attending a place of worship (e.g., church, mosque, synagogue), and celebrating religious festivals (e.g., Christmas, Ramadan, Diwali).
Retelling Religious Stories: Children will be able to retell religious stories from different faiths, such as the Nativity (Christianity), the story of Noah’s Ark, or the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. They might also explore parables like the Good Samaritan or stories from other traditions, such as Guru Nanak’s life in Sikhism. They will begin to recognise the moral or message in these stories (e.g., the importance of kindness, forgiveness, or helping others) and relate them to their own experiences.
Knowledge of Festivals: Children will be able to talk about different religious festivals such as Easter, Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid al-Fitr, or Vaisakhi. They will know why these festivals are celebrated and some of the customs and practices associated with them.
Knowing Places of Worship: Children will be able to name and describe the significance of places of worship for different religions, such as a church, mosque, synagogue, gurdwara, or temple. They may also understand what happens in these places (e.g., prayer, worship, community gatherings). They will recognise and name religious symbols and objects, such as a cross (Christianity), a menorah, (Judaism), a prayer mat, (Islam), or a diya lamp, (Hinduism). They will know that these objects hold special meaning in different religious traditions.
Respecting Other Religion: Children will demonstrate an increasing understanding that people have different beliefs and practices, and they will be encouraged to show respect for these differences. For example, they might learn why some people pray differently or why certain foods are eaten (or avoided) in religious traditions. They will be able to discuss the importance of respecting people’s beliefs, customs, and ways of life, even if they are different from their own.
Asking “Big” Questions: Children in KS1 will start to engage with big philosophical and religious questions, such as “Who created the world?”, “Why do we celebrate?”, or “What happens when we die?”. They may not fully understand these questions but will begin to express their thoughts and listen to the views of others. They will explore answers to these questions from different religious perspectives and begin to form their own ideas, even if they are still developing.
Understanding Right and Wrong: Children will continue to learn about ethical concepts such as fairness, kindness, and forgiveness through religious teachings and stories. They will demonstrate understanding by discussing what is right and wrong in different situations.
Acting on Moral Ideas: They will begin to apply these ideas to their own lives, showing kindness and empathy towards others. For example, after hearing a story about helping others, they may express a desire to help a friend or share something.
Creative Representation of Religious Ideas: Children will express their understanding of religious stories, festivals, and symbols through art, drama, and music. For instance, they may create drawings of a religious celebration, act out parts of a religious story, or make a craft that symbolises an aspect of a religious festival. Through role-playing activities, children might take on characters from religious narratives (e.g., dressing up as Mary and Joseph for a Nativity play, or acting out the story of Moses).
Using Religious Language: Children in KS1 will begin to use and understand religious vocabulary with greater confidence. This includes words like “God”, “prayer”, “worship”, “faith”, “holy”, and the names of key figures in different religions, such as Jesus, Allah, Moses, and Buddha. They will be able to describe, in simple terms, religious practices and beliefs they have learned about, explaining why they are important to people of different faiths.
Personal Reflection: Children will be able to talk about their own beliefs, values, and what is important to them, while reflecting on what they have learned about others. They may express personal thoughts about topics like kindness, family, and celebrations, linking these to religious ideas. They will be able to make connections between their own experiences (e.g., celebrating a birthday) and religious celebrations they learn about (e.g., Christmas or Eid).

By the end of Key Stage 2 pupils will demonstrate the following:

Understanding Key Beliefs: Children will be able to describe in more detail the key beliefs of major world religions, such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism. They will demonstrate an understanding of how these beliefs influence the lives of individuals and communities. They will have a stronger grasp of religious practices, such as worship, prayer, fasting, and pilgrimage, and will be able to explain why these practices are important in different faith traditions.
Reading and Interpreting Sacred Texts: Children will become more familiar with sacred texts, such as the Bible, the Qur'an, the Torah, and the Vedas. They will be able to explain key teachings from these texts and how they shape the beliefs and practices of religious communities. They will be able to explore and interpret religious stories, such as parables from Christianity or stories from Hindu mythology, and understand the lessons and moral messages these stories convey.
Understanding Religious Festivals: Children will gain a deeper understanding of the significance of religious festivals, such as Easter, Christmas, Eid al-Fitr, Yom Kippur, and Diwali. They will be able to explain the historical and spiritual significance of these festivals and how they are celebrated by different communities. They will begin to draw connections between different festivals, identifying similarities and differences in the way they are celebrated across various religions.
Understanding Diversity: Children will recognise that there is diversity within religions, such as different denominations in Christianity (e.g., Catholic, Protestant) or different traditions in Islam (e.g., Sunni, Shia). They will be able to explain how these differences influence practices and beliefs. They will understand that even within a single religion, people may interpret teachings differently or practice their faith in different ways.
Religion and Community: Children will explore the role of religion in communities and society, including the role of religious leaders (e.g., priests, imams, rabbis), and how religious institutions contribute to community life (e.g., charity work, celebrations, education). They will begin to see how religious beliefs influence moral and ethical decisions, such as issues around justice, equality, charity, and the environment. For example, they may explore how the concept of charity in Islam (zakat) or Christianity influences social actions.
Exploring Philosophical Questions: Children in KS2 will engage with deeper, more philosophical questions such as “Why do people suffer?”, “What is the purpose of life?”, “Is there life after death?”, or “What is the nature of God?”. They will explore answers from different religious and secular perspectives, allowing them to develop their critical thinking skills. They will begin to offer more thoughtful and reflective responses to these big questions, considering different points of view and using religious teachings to help inform their ideas. Children will be encouraged to evaluate and compare different religious beliefs and practices. For example, they might consider the similarities and differences between Christian and Muslim views on prayer or fasting and reflect on what these practices mean for believers. They will begin to form and articulate their own opinions on religious and ethical issues, while respecting the views of others. They might reflect on questions like, “What does it mean to live a good life?” or “How do different religions promote peace and justice?”
Understanding Moral Concepts: Children will continue to explore moral and ethical concepts such as fairness, justice, compassion, and forgiveness. They will examine how these values are expressed in different religious teachings and how they apply to real-life situations. Through discussion and reflection, children will explore ethical dilemmas and how people from different religious or non-religious backgrounds might approach them. For example, they might consider questions about honesty, bullying, or caring for the environment.
Understanding Personal Faith: Children will explore how religion influences the lives of individuals, including how religious people might express their faith in daily life through practices like prayer, worship, dietary laws, and dress. They will reflect on their own beliefs and values, whether religious or secular, and consider how these shape their understanding of the world and their behaviour toward others.
Using Religious Vocabulary: By the end of KS2, children will have developed a wide vocabulary related to religious education. They will confidently use terms such as sacred, pilgrimage, worship, ritual, symbol, and divine, and be able to explain their meanings within religious contexts.
Understanding Symbols and Rituals: They will be able to explain the meaning of religious symbols (e.g., the cross, crescent moon, Star of David) and rituals (e.g., baptism, Bar/Bat Mitzvah) and understand their significance within religious communities.
Creative Engagement: Children will express their understanding of religious concepts through creative activities such as art, drama, poetry, or music. For instance, they might create artwork representing a religious story or write a poem reflecting on a philosophical question.
Role-Playing and Presentations: They may also engage in role-playing or group presentations, acting out scenes from religious stories or discussing religious teachings in small groups.
Respect for Diversity: Children will demonstrate an increasing respect for religious and cultural diversity, showing an appreciation for the wide range of beliefs and practices in the world. They will understand the importance of religious tolerance and the need for peaceful coexistence in a multicultural society.
Building Empathy: Through learning about different religions, they will develop empathy and understanding for people with different beliefs, showing kindness and respect for those who follow different traditions.

In 2023-2024, Gorsefield Primary School following Discovery RE Curriculum.

Here is the curriculum impact statement.

Religious Education Curriculum Impact Statement 2023 Ending