Religious Education
OUR JOURNEY THROUGH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Distinctive Christian Character
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind... You shall love your neighbour as yourself."
Matthew-22:37, 39
As a Church of England school, Religious Education is central to nurturing the whole child. RE allows us dedicated time each week to study world religions and world views. As a Christian school, we spend the majority of this time studying Christianity, enabling children to build religious literacy and confidence with the Bible as a reliable source for discovering who God is and what He has done.
We explore how Jesus Christ stands at the centre of Christian faith and what this means for our lives today. We also study other world faiths and world views because understanding our multi- cultural and multi-faith world is both a Christian responsibility and a practical necessity. Jesus' command to "love your neighbour as yourself" calls us to genuine understanding and respect.
Through RE, we equip our children with knowledge, wisdom, and the confidence to engage thoughtfully with people of all beliefs, reflecting Christ's love in an increasingly diverse society.
Intended Curriculum
At Trent CE Primary School, we aim for every child to develop a deep and coherent understanding of
Christianity as the foundation of our school's identity, alongside a respectful and informed understanding of other religious and non-religious worldviews. Inspired by our vision, Inspired by Christ we serve one another in love, we want pupils to develop the religious literacy needed to understand the world around them and live well together in a diverse and pluralistic society.
Through a knowledge-rich and carefully sequenced curriculum, pupils explore the Bible as a key Christian text, developing their understanding of God's character, Jesus' life and teachings, and core Christian concepts such as Creation, Incarnation and Salvation. They encounter Christianity as a global world faith, recognising the diversity of Christian belief and practice across cultures and communities.
Alongside Christianity, pupils study other religious and non-religious worldviews, developing their understanding of the beliefs, practices and values that shape people's lives. They learn about religion not simply as a set of beliefs, but as something lived and experienced by individuals and communities. Our curriculum develops three complementary forms of disciplinary knowledge: theology, philosophy and human and social sciences.
Pupils learn to interpret religious texts and beliefs, explore questions of meaning and purpose, and investigate how worldviews shape people's understanding of the world. They also develop personal knowledge, reflecting thoughtfully on their own experiences, assumptions and responses to the questions explored.
Religious Education is taught weekly, following the London Diocesan Board for Schools (LDBS) curriculum.
Units are carefully sequenced to build and revisit substantive knowledge over time, helping pupils make connections between prior and new learning. Christianity remains central, alongside the study of other religious and non-religious worldviews. Teaching is shaped by the C.A.R.E. pedagogical model, which provides a shared language for learning across the school:
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C – Curiosity: Developing pupils’ sense of wonder and desire to learn.
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A – Ask Questions: Encouraging thoughtful questions about beliefs, meaning and how we should live.Pupils explore these through the three ways of knowing: theology, philosophy and human and social sciences.
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R – Reflect: Thinking carefully and critically about beliefs, experiences and choices.
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E – Explore Difference: Considering how different worldviews shape people’s lives and understanding ofthe world.
Lessons include storytelling, engagement with sacred texts and artefacts, discussion, enquiry, reflection and creative expression. Teachers make connections between beliefs, practices and behaviour, while helping pupils develop their own questions, consider different perspectives and articulate their thinking.
Central to our approach is a psychologically safe RE classroom, a place of beloved belonging where every child is valued. Pupils’ voices and personal experiences are treated with respect, and difference and disagreement are explored thoughtfully. This enables pupils to participate confidently, engage with challenging ideas and develop respect for the beliefs and experiences of others.
Curriculum Delivery
Through RE, pupils develop the knowledge, understanding and disciplinary skills to engage thoughtfully with religion and belief. They build religious literacy, use appropriate vocabulary and make connections between beliefs, texts, practices and lived experiences.
Pupils develop a secure understanding of Christianity, including its global diversity, alongside an informed and respectful understanding of other religious and non-religious worldviews. They become increasingly confident in asking questions, considering different perspectives and explaining their own thinking.
Pupils are increasingly able to:
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Recall and apply substantive knowledge, making connections across units.
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Use theology, philosophy and human and social sciences to explore religion and belief.
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Ask thoughtful questions, reflect critically and consider questions of meaning and purpose.
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Recognise how beliefs and worldviews shape individuals and communities.
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Express their ideas confidently and listen respectfully to others.
Assessment is integral to teaching and learning. Through discussion, questioning, written work, creative
outcomes and end-of-unit activities, teachers assess pupils’ understanding and progress. LDBS progression
expectations help identify misconceptions, inform future teaching and ensure learning builds on prior
knowledge.
Leaders evaluate RE through work scrutiny, pupil voice, learning walks and curriculum review, supporting
the continued development of provision so that all pupils can flourish as thoughtful, informed and respectful learners.
Impact