Religious Education
INTENT
Religious Education (RE) at Sussex Road is central to our school’s core values of being Ready, Responsible, and Respectful. Through thoughtful discussions and reflective activities, we aim to nurture an ethos of mutual respect, tolerance, and open-mindedness, preparing our pupils for life in a diverse and interconnected society.
We promote British Values alongside other key areas of learning, including PSHE, to ensure that our pupils understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens of the UK. By celebrating cultural differences and religious diversity within our school and the wider Kent community, we encourage children to engage with and appreciate different traditions. Pupils are given opportunities to reflect on their own beliefs and ways of living, ensuring that all children develop a sense of inclusion and become welcoming, compassionate members of our community.
Through our RE curriculum, we aspire to equip our pupils with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to become thoughtful, respectful, and responsible citizens in an ever-changing world.
IMPLEMENTATION
At Sussex Road, we follow the Kent Religious Education Syllabus, ensuring that our curriculum is broad, inclusive, and up-to-date. Teachers actively promote interfaith understanding, helping pupils appreciate that they live in a multifaith society. Through carefully planned and engaging weekly lessons, we make RE meaningful, inspiring, and relevant, equipping pupils with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to navigate an increasingly diverse world.
As outlined in the Kent Syllabus, our pupils continuously develop three core concepts:
-
To know about and understand a range of religious and non-religious worldviews
-
To express ideas and insights about the nature, significance, and impact of religious and non-religious worldviews
-
To gain and apply the skills needed to engage seriously with religious and non-religious worldviews
The Kent Syllabus also acknowledges the diversity within religious traditions, both geographically and historically. It highlights the importance of recognizing that members of religious traditions may hold personal worldviews that differ from one another. This concept is also reflected in how pupils engage with their own personal worldviews in the RE classroom.
In our RE curriculum, we explore the following religions and worldviews in depth, through lessons and assemblies:
-
Christianity
-
Islam
-
Judaism
-
Hinduism
-
Non-religious worldviews
IMPACT
Religious Education at Sussex Road provides our pupils with opportunities to encounter a wide range of religions and worldviews, promoting understanding and respect for diversity. Our approach to teaching RE helps pupils embed learning into their long-term memory, allowing them to connect key concepts and ideas over time. Fundamentally, RE at Sussex Road encourages pupils to explore and reflect on their own beliefs and views, fostering personal growth and respect for the perspectives of others.