At Barton Moss, our Religious Education (RE) curriculum is thoughtfully designed to support pupils in their personal search for meaning and understanding of what it means to be human. It explores various faith traditions, rituals, places of worship, and sacred texts, aiming to foster awareness and appreciation for the beliefs, values, and traditions of others.
Our curriculum focuses on teaching world faiths, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Hinduism, and encourages children to ask questions about the world while reflecting on their own views and experiences. By linking our core values of equality and diversity with British Values, we help students develop the skills and confidence to consider themselves as Global Citizens in a multicultural and mutually respectful society.
In the Early Years Unit, we use the EYFS curriculum as a foundation for RE learning. This is integrated with our progression of skills and vocabulary throughout daily activities, allowing children to explore significant faith celebrations like Christmas, Easter, Diwali, and Chinese New Year, along with learning about places of worship and sacred texts.
Our RE curriculum adheres to the Salford Agreed Syllabus and is designed to ensure that all pupils achieve well and attain high outcomes by the end of each Key Stage. The curriculum acknowledges that the primary religious tradition in Great Britain is Christianity, while also considering the teaching and practices of other major religions.
- Progressive and Ambitious: The curriculum is structured in a progressive, sequenced manner rooted in theology, social sciences, and philosophy.
- Core Strands: It focuses on three essential strands: Believing, Expressing, and Living, enabling children to enhance their understanding of RE and the British Values that stem from it.
To enrich our curriculum, we organise visits to places of worship and invite faith leaders and community members to share their insights in the classroom. Throughout the school year, students engage in celebrating various religious festivals, which enhance their learning experiences.
RE is taught weekly through a thematic approach, while some discrete learning focuses on specific religions. Religious texts are incorporated into lessons to support knowledge of the themes and improve non-fiction reading comprehension. Students are encouraged to express their skills and knowledge through diverse formats such as debates, drama, poetry, stories, art, and non-fiction genres.
Collective Worship takes place daily, celebrating our core values of ambition, excellence, respect, togetherness, and happiness through discussions, stories, and songs.
- Early Years: Assessment in the EYU is conducted through the Target Tracker Early Years Framework.
- Key Stages 1 and 2: Assessment is based on the expected statements outlined in the curriculum.
- Book Monitoring: We expect all teaching and learning outcomes to reflect a 100% good standard or better, with at least 50% rated as outstanding, demonstrating student engagement and knowledge retention linked to curriculum intent.
- Data Tracking:
- At the end of EYFS, we aim for at least 75% of children to achieve the RE objectives.
- By the end of Years 1 and 2, at least 65% of children will be age-related, with 10% achieving above expectations.
- By the end of Years 3 and 4, we aim for 70% age-related achievement with 15% above expectations.
- By the end of Years 5 and 6, we expect 75% age-related achievement with 15% above.
Regular book looks and pupil voice assessments will ensure staff can identify students engaged in religious activities within and outside of school.
Through our comprehensive RE curriculum, we aspire to cultivate understanding, respect, and appreciation for diverse beliefs, preparing children to thrive as informed and compassionate members of a multicultural society.