Religious Education (RE) at Merridale

 

At Merridale, we are very proud of our curriculum. The teaching of Religious Education (RE) at Merridale is important for many key reasons, especially in a diverse and multi-cultural society and school community such as ours. 

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Learning in RE Promotes Understanding and Respect

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• Cultural awareness: Children learn about different religions, beliefs, and traditions, helping them appreciate diversity.

• Respect for others: It encourages empathy and tolerance, reducing prejudice and promoting harmony in communities.

 

Learning in RE Supports Personal Development

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• Critical thinking: RE encourages children to ask big questions about life, morality, and existence.

• Values and ethics: It helps pupils explore concepts like kindness, fairness, and responsibility, which are essential for character development.

 

Learning in RE Encourages Dialogue and Expression

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• Safe space for discussion: Children can express their own beliefs and listen to others in a respectful environment.

• Builds communication skills: Through discussion and reflection, pupils learn to articulate thoughts and listen actively.

 

Learning in RE Prepares Children for Life in Modern Britain

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• British values: RE supports understanding of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect.

• Global citizenship: It helps children become thoughtful, informed members of a global community.

Our RE curriculum was the focus for a deep dive during our latest Ofsted inspection (May 2024) where the inspector stated: 

"Religious education, where a spiralling curriculum, supported by meaningful assessment, deepens pupils’ learning in a way that is impressive."

At Merridale, we follow the SACRE RE syllabus for Wolverhampton and we ensure that we fulfil the legal requirements of teaching Religious Education as stated by the National Curriculum. You can find out more about Wolverhampton SACRE here:
Religious Education - Wolverhampton SACRE | City Of Wolverhampton Council

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Religious Education and the School Curriculum - SACRE Agreed Syllabus for Wolverhampton

 

Religious education actively promotes the values of truth, justice respect for all, care of the environment and human stewardship of the earth. It places specific emphasis on:

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• Pupils valuing themselves and others.

• The role of the family and the community in religious belief and activity.

• The celebration of diversity in society through understanding similarities and differences.

• Recognition of the changing nature of society, religious practice and expression

• The influence of religion in the local, national and global community.

• Sustainable development of the earth.

 

The Wolverhampton Agreed Syllabus has identified the following key aims for Religious Education and the School Curriculum:

The contributions of religious education to the aims of the school curriculum

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Aim 1: The school curriculum should aim to provide opportunities for all pupils to learn and achieve.

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• should be stimulating, interesting and enjoyable.

• should promote the best possible progress and attainment for all pupils

• should develop independent and interdependent learning

• should contribute to pupils’ skills in Literacy and ICT

• should promote an enquiring approach to issues of belief and truth in religion

• should enable pupils to evaluate thoughtfully their own and others’ views, in a reasoned and informed manner

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Aim 2: The school curriculum should aim to promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and prepare them for all the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life.

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• focuses on ultimate questions and ethical issues.

• enables pupils to appreciate their own and others’ beliefs and cultures and how these affect individuals, communities and societies

• develops pupils’ awareness of themselves and others

• develops a clear understanding of religions in the world today

• enables pupils to learn about the ways different faith communities relate to each other.

 

Due to the unique demographic of Wolverhampton and Merridale Primary School’s local community, we aim to provide a high standard of Religious Education (SACRE agreed syllabus for Wolverhampton) , by provoking challenging questions about human life, beliefs, communities and ideas.  We will develop their awareness of Christianity, and other principal religions that have a significant local presence (Sikhism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism) and their religious traditions. This includes exploring spiritual and cultural traditions of these religions and considering issues of right and wrong. Through our varied approach to pedagogy, pupils will acquire a wide range of religious specific vocabulary (goldilocks words), a secure understanding of Christianity and other principal religions and opportunities to develop their sense of identity and belonging. Pupils will be taught different religions and worldviews about different ways of life in local, national and global contexts and they will discover, explore and consider many different answers to questions about human identity, meaning and value. Children will also be taught to disagree respectfully, to be reasonable in their responses to religions and worldviews and to respond by expressing insights into their own and others’ lives. Fundamentally, pupils will think rigorously, creatively, imaginatively and respectfully about their ideas in relation to religions and worldviews.
 
Children at Merridale will develop their awareness of Christianity, and other principal religions that have a significant local presence (Sikhism, Hinduism and Islam) and their religious traditions. This includes exploring spiritual and cultural traditions of these religions and considering issues of right and wrong. They will also explore the different beliefs about God and what it means to be a good human being.  Teaching should equip pupils with knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and worldviews, enabling them to develop their ideas, values and identity. It should develop an aptitude for dialogue in pupils so that they can participate positively in our society which is diverse in relation to religions and worldviews. Pupils learn how to study religions and worldviews systematically, making progress by reflecting on the impact of religions and worldviews on contemporary life locally, nationally and globally to increasing levels of complexity and depth. Pupils gain and deploy the skills needed to interpret and evaluate evidence, texts and sources of wisdom or authority. They learn to articulate clear and coherent accounts of their personal beliefs, ideas, values and experiences while respecting the right of others to have different views, values and ways of life.

Right to Withdraw

Parents/carers have the right to withdraw their child from Religious Education on the grounds that they wish to provide their own RE and this provision will be the parents’ responsibility (School Standards and Framework Act 1998 S71 (3). If parents wish to withdraw their child from Religious Education, parents are to put their request in writing to the Head Teacher. There then will be a discussion/meeting between the parents/carers and the RE lead and class teacher to first discuss the intentions of RE at Merridale Primary School to ensure parents are fully informed of the importance of teaching RE. If the parent still would like to withdraw their child from RE, their child will be added to the RE withdrawal register and  will establish how the child’s withdrawal can be best accommodated. Then parents/ carers will be sent a letter to confirm the withdrawal. 

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