Religious Education

Our RE Curriculum has been sequenced and mapped deliberately and coherently. Through Questful RE, we aim to teach high quality, well thought out and knowledge rich lessons that demonstrate progression.

Intent

At Rectory C.E. Primary School, the primary aim of Religious Education is to help children acquire and deepen their knowledge and understanding of Christianity as a living faith that continues to shape the lives of individuals and communities across the world. As a Church of England school, we recognise Christianity’s foundational role in shaping British culture, heritage, and values.

In addition, our RE curriculum enables pupils to:

• Learn about other major world religions and worldviews, appreciating their beliefs, practices, and contributions to society

• Explore how religious beliefs influence moral choices, behaviour, and identity

• Develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and ethical issues

• Reflect on their own beliefs, values, and experiences to support their spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development

Implementation

At Rectory C.E. Primary School, Religious Education is taught weekly across all year groups, in line with the Liverpool Diocesan guidelines and the Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education’s ‘Questful RE’ syllabus, enhanced by the Sefton Agreed Syllabus. This combined approach ensures academic rigour while nurturing the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of every child.

Our RE curriculum is structured to:

• Follow a progressive sequence of learning, building knowledge, vocabulary, and skills from EYFS to Year 6

• Embed the ‘Understanding Christianity’ framework, focusing on:

• Making sense of the text – interpreting and understanding biblical texts

• Understanding the impact – exploring how Christian beliefs influence actions and communities

• Making connections – relating religious concepts to pupils’ own lives and worldviews

RE at Rectory is inclusive and respectful of all faiths. While Christianity forms 80% of the curriculum, 20% is dedicated to other world religions, primarily Islam and Judaism, introduced from Year 2 onwards. Pupils explore these faiths through engaging topics, artefacts, visits to places of worship, and interactions with faith representatives.

Key features of our implementation include:

• Knowledge Organisers shared with pupils and parents to clarify key learning and vocabulary

• First-hand experiences, including visits to churches, mosques, and synagogues, and welcoming visitors from diverse faith communities

• Creative expression through role play, art, drama, and written work

• Progressive learning: from retelling stories in KS1 to analysing and evaluating religious texts and practices in upper KS2

• Cross-curricular links with subjects such as history, geography, and PSHE, reinforcing RE as a central hub for understanding identity, culture, and values
  

RE is further enriched through:

• Daily collective worship at class, phase, and whole-school levels

• Celebration of the ecclesiastical year, including the Easter Experience, Nativity plays, and Harvest Festival

• Strong partnerships with the local church, including regular clergy-led worship, church visits, and preparation for Confirmation and Communion

Our RE Ambassadors work alongside the Ethos Group and RE Subject Leader to shape and strengthen the curriculum, ensuring it remains relevant, reflective, and rooted in the values of our school motto: “God is Our Strength.”

Impact

At Rectory C.E. Primary School, the impact of our Religious Education curriculum is reflected in the knowledge, empathy, and spiritual awareness demonstrated by our pupils. Through the use of the ‘Questful RE’ syllabus, enhanced by the Sefton Agreed Syllabus and the ‘Understanding Christianity’ framework, children develop a deep understanding of Christianity and other world faiths, and the role religion plays in shaping individuals, communities, and cultures.

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils:

• ✅ Demonstrate a secure understanding of key religious beliefs, practices, and values across Christianity, Islam, and Judaism

• 📖 Interpret religious texts with increasing confidence and make meaningful connections to their own lives and worldviews

• 🧠 Reflect thoughtfully on moral and ethical questions, showing the ability to form reasoned and respectful opinions

• 🗣️ Engage in open, informed dialogue about faith, belief, and identity, showing empathy and respect for others

• 🕊️ Show a growing awareness of their own spirituality and the importance of reflection, community, and belonging

Pupils’ learning is assessed through discussion, written work, creative expression, and pupil voice. The impact of RE is also evident in the positive attitudes, inclusive values, and respectful behaviours seen across the school community.

Through RE, our children are well-prepared to become thoughtful, compassionate, and informed citizens, equipped to thrive in a diverse and ever-changing world.

Key Documents