Religious Education
We follow Oxfordshire’s agreed syllabus for Religious Education and teach RE using the Jigsaw Scheme of work.
Religious Education at St Francis CE Primary School
Purpose of study (taken from Oxfordshire Agreed Syllabus):
For pupils to learn about religions and beliefs which have influenced the lives of millions of people and heavily influenced the development of different human cultures. Pupils apply academic skills such as analysis and critical and creative thinking, approaching the study of religion with different disciplines as they mature.
For pupils to learn more about themselves and their place in the world from their increasingly academic and creative exploration of religions and beliefs.
Each topic is explored through three areas:
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Pupil’s experience and self-concept
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Religious experience and concepts
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Universal human experience and concepts
Key Questions
Key Stage 1
a) What do people believe about God, humanity and the natural world?
b) What makes some stories special in religion?
c) How and why are celebrations important in religion?
d) How and why do symbols express religious meaning?
e) What makes some teachers and leaders special for religious people?
f) What do we get out of belonging to different groups and how do we show that we belong?
g) What makes me special?
Key Stage 2
a) How do people’s beliefs about and attitudes towards God, the universe and humanity act as a guide through life?
b) What do different sacred texts teach about life and how do they influence people differently?
c) In what different ways do people worship and what difference does this make in their lives?
d) What makes some occasions in life significant and how and why are these recognised and celebrated?
e) How are religious and spiritual ideas expressed and why is literal language not adequate?
f) What is it about key religious figures that make them inspirational for religious believers?
g) How should people’s religious and other beliefs, values and attitudes influence their personal lives and is it possible to live up to this?
h) How do religious families and communities practice their faith and how is this seen in local communities?
i) How do religions and beliefs influence the way people respond to global issues such as human rights, social justice and the environment
Early Years Foundation Stage
Children in Nursery and Foundation Stage learn about religion through the strand ‘Understanding the World’ found in the EYFS curriculum. Children will learn about a range of religious celebrations through investigations and play.
‘Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.’
