Subject Lead: Mrs Hill

RE is studied in all years at Fairfield school.  In Early Years, it is taught through the Early Years Curriculum; in all other years it is taught through both the creative curriculum and/or through discrete lessons.

The principal aim of religious education is to explore what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that our children can gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion and belief, reflecting their own ideas and ways of living.

At Fairfield, we follow the Worcestershire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education 2020–2025.  This syllabus was prepared by SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) in conjunction with and written by RE Today Services and is licensed to Worcestershire.

Through this syllabus, the child explores big questions about life, to find out what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can make sense of religion, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living.

In reception, children learn about Christians as well as other people of faith as part of their growing sense of self, their own community and their place within it.  They do this by listening to stories, singing songs and celebrating festivals throughout the year. Eg Christmas and Divali.

As the children move to KS1, they broaden their study of Christians and begin to learn about Jews and Muslims too. In KS2, deeper understanding of Christians is studied as well as broader studies of Jews and Muslims. Children are also introduced to Hindus.

You may note that Christians rather than Christianity, Hindus rather than Hinduism and Muslims rather than Islam is studied. This is to reflect the fact that RE starts with encounters with living faiths rather than the history and belief structures of traditions.  This also recognises diversity within a religion. Eg, not all people of the same faith may necessarily have the same viewpoint.

As well as following the Worcestershire Syllabus, encounters with other religions and non-religious world views can occur at any key stage, as appropriate to the school context. In addition, children are given opportunities for extracurricular and enrichment activities such as visiting places of worship, attending church services, joining in with celebrations and festivals and welcoming people of faith/no faith into schools.