Intent 

As a Church of England school, we strive to create a positive, safe and nurturing Christian environment, where all members of the school and wider community are respected and valued. Children are also taught about a range of religions and worldviews. Underpinning our curriculum are our six Christian values of respect, honesty, forgiveness, love, compassion and friendship.

At Haddenham St Mary’s School we follow the Buckinghamshire Agreed Syllabus for RE 2022-2027 linked to the Oxfordshire Diocese Scheme of Work. It is designed to give all pupils the knowledge, skills and personal development to succeed in their learning in school as well as in life.

Implementation

Our curriculum is shaped by our school vision to provide ‘excellence, care and fun for all’, inclusive of all children and encouraging them to achieve their potential.

Early Years

In the Early Years Foundation Stage children learn about different religions through the ‘Understanding the World’ strand. Planned activities and teaching and learning opportunities that occur ‘in the moment’ give pupils the chance to draw on their own experiences, what is read to them in class, and their experiences at school.

Key Stage 1

Pupils are encouraged to think about their prior knowledge during lessons and are taught how to make links between the different topics they have learnt about in RE lessons.

Lessons are planned to allow children to engage in meaningful discussions about complex subjects; they are encouraged to share their own beliefs and also to question and discuss those of others.

Pupils have the opportunity to visit places of worship in their local community. These include regular visits to our local church with whom we have a very strong link.. Children also visit a mosque and a gurdwara. By exposing pupils to the wide range of beliefs and religions that are practiced in Buckinghamshire, we are helping them to understand and become aware and open towards the community around them.

Impact

Children at Haddenham St Mary’s show understanding and respect for each other’s faiths and have made significant progress spiritually, academically, emotionally and morally, making steps towards becoming respectful members of our multi-cultural and multi-faith society.