Our Curriculum

RE at Longvernal

At Longvernal, our Religious Education curriculum builds on the National Curriculum through the use of Jigsaw RE. Through careful planning, we enhance children’s Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development. We make clear links with both British Values and our own FOREST Values, whilst providing opportunities to celebrate differences and respecting ourselves, others and the world in which we live.

Our curriculum intent for RE reflects the purpose and aims of the National Curriculum by provoking challenging questions themed around our Big Ideas: Prayer and Worship, Celebrations and Festivals, Beliefs and Practices and Values. Using the Jigsaw RE syllabus, at Longvernal we aim to give children the knowledge, critical thinking skills, open minded and respectful attitude with which to investigate the world of religion and beliefs, and make their own decisions about what this means to them, whilst empathising with what it means to those who hold those beliefs. It also aims to enable children to grow spiritually by developing their awareness and skills of reflection, their experience of awe and wonder and their appreciation of stillness and silence.

The curriculum breadth is adapted to the context of our secular school by covering the main world religions and also non-religious views - for example, Humanism. It develops pupils’ understanding of fundamental British Values alongside our FOREST Values and an appreciation of different religious and world views. The ultimate aim is that this should enable pupils to participate positively and respectfully in our society, whilst building cultural capital.

The curriculum is sequenced through our Big Ideas, using Jigsaw RE, in long- and medium-term plans to help pupils build cumulative knowledge. Jigsaw RE is a comprehensive Religious Education curriculum built from Nursery to Year 6. Most importantly, it covers enquiry modules focusing on Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism which create engaging and challenging RE lessons. Christianity is taught in every year group, developing children’s learning in a progressive way. The curriculum design helps pupils to read widely by exposing them to stories from a range of religions and cultures. Key events associated with different religious / non-religious views are available for all pupils to access. In each lesson, children are given opportunities to make links between different religions as well as religious and non-religious views. Furthermore, where possible, classes will visit places of worship to enhance their understanding of their year group’s specific religions. For example, Year 5 visit the Hindu Temple in Bristol.

Progress is secured for every pupil by continual assessment in lessons. At the start of an RE lesson, a Flashback Four quiz gives an opportunity for the pupils to recall and practise their prior learning. At the end, the children’s understanding of that lesson’s learning objective and previous lessons are assessed through quadrant style exit quizzes, based on cognitive learning theories. Class teachers will use this information to inform their planning in subsequent lessons ensuring all pupils make excellent progress.

What is Jigsaw RE?

At Longvernal we use Jigsaw RE, which is a comprehensive enquiry-based, teaching programme for Religious Education for Years YN-Y6 (4–11-year-olds). Our belief is that using this model well, children’s critical thinking skills can be developed, their motivation to learn increased, and their knowledge and understanding of, and empathy with people and their beliefs, religious or otherwise, will be enhanced. This approach takes very seriously the philosophy that children are free to make their own choices and decisions concerning religion and belief.

Longvernal Primary School Religious Education: Support for Parents

What are the aims of our Religious Education?

RE aims to give children the knowledge, critical thinking skills, open minded and respectful attitude with which to investigate the world of religion and beliefs, and make their own decisions about what this means to them, whilst empathising with what it means to those who hold those beliefs. It also aims to enable children to grow spiritually by developing their awareness and skills of reflection, their experience of awe and wonder and their appreciation of stillness and silence.

What do schools have to teach in RE?

According to the latest guidance from the government, via the National Curriculum for England, every school needs to have a broad and balanced curriculum that:

• promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, social, mental and physical development of pupils

• prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life • promotes British values.

What is Discovery RE?

At Longvernal we use Discovery RE, which is a comprehensive enquiry-based, teaching programme for Religious Education for Years YN-Y6 (4-11 year olds). Our belief is that using this model well, children’s critical thinking skills can be developed, their motivation to learn increased, and their knowledge and understanding of, and empathy with people and their beliefs, religious or otherwise,will be enhanced. This approach takes very seriously the philosophy that children are free to make their own choices and decisions concerning religion and belief.

Does my child have to attend RE lessons?

RE is a statutory subject in all schools in England, except for those children withdrawn at the request of their parents. (Education Act 2002, section 80). It is parents’ legal right to withdraw their children from Religious Education.