We want children to enjoy and appreciate the importance of religious thinking and debate, and to develop an understanding of the core beliefs that underpin each of the main faiths studied. They will also learn that there are a variety of ways within each faith of expressing that belief and not all adherents to any particular view express their beliefs in the same way.

In each class, displays will support children’s learning about the faiths or issues/themes they are studying, presenting key vocabulary, concepts and questions to be studied. These displays will provide a reference point for children and will also develop with them as they progress through each unit. In addition, all classes will include a reflection area where children can take time to share their responses and thoughts about issues discussed.

Lessons will begin with a brief opportunity for retrieval practice, taking a variety of forms, to embed prior learning of knowledge and concepts.  

For units focusing on Christianity, In Key Stages 1 and 2, lessons are then structured using the three elements identified in Understanding Christianity: 

Making sense of the text

Children will read and analyse sources of Christianity including texts, art and architecture, and music. Children explore the context (Where does this fit into the ‘big story’?) and any interpretations of the sources (What do different people think about this?) and the purpose of them (How do Christians use this source?). They will examine the significance of the text or source, unveil the concept underpinning it which contributes to understanding key Christian ideas and consider the issues behind, within and in front of the text or source. 

Understanding the impact 

Children then move on to examining how Christians live both in the Christian community and in their everyday living, what impact Christianity and Christians have on the world, and how this has had an impact on how people see the world. 

Making connections

Finally, children begin to connect texts, concepts and ideas about Christian living, using ideas to reflect on matters of personal concern, challenging ideas and allowing ideas to challenge their own thinking, and considering where there might be value in further study.   

The three elements will be covered in each lesson through a wide range of activities and learning opportunities.

When studying non-Christian faiths, teachers will also ensure that children have the opportunity to learn about core principles, practices and stories for each faith and that they make connections between these teachings and the impact these have on the lives of people who share that faith. Units from the Coventry and Warwickshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education focus on three strands:

• Believing
• Expressing
• Living

Children have the opportunity to explore religious texts and stories to understand what different faiths believe. They also learn about the expression of faith through institutions, practices (including understanding how religious festivals and artefacts contribute to an expression of faith). As children progress through the R.E. curriculum, they will become increasingly aware of the plurality of religious expression and the diversity within faiths (as well as between faiths), understanding that religious denominations can define quite distinct commitments and practices (as well as commonalities) within a broader faith. Children also learn about what it means to live a life of religious commitment, and the way in which religious principles guide human experience and interactions. Throughout these units, children are encouraged to reflect on what they have learned and relate this to their own lives, developing a strong appreciation of what it means to lead ‘a good life’; they will appreciate that there are many different ways to lead a good life and have opportunities to reflect with increasing sophistication on what guides them, and to review and construct their own principles.

R.E. lessons are conducted within a “safe environment”, in which children and adults can respectfully and sensitively explore concepts, ask questions, and debate ideas.  They are engaging, challenging and relevant in tackling contemporary topics of interest in the world, making use of a variety of sources, images (including art and architecture from all faiths), music and texts to support children to think deeply about the ideas they encounter and the religious texts studied.