Religious Education

Impact

At Chalfont St Peter C of E Academy, our RE curriculum is designed to inspire and nurture every pupil to flourish spiritually, morally, and academically, in line with our vision of ‘bringing joy and inspiring success’ where every pupil lives life to the full (John 10:10). Grounded in our strong Christian ethos and core values of Generosity, Compassion, Respect, Justice, Faithfulness, and Courage, RE aims to develop pupils’ understanding of Christianity and other world religions, fostering respect, tolerance, and a deep sense of community. We intend for pupils to explore big questions about meaning, purpose, and belief in a safe and supportive environment that reflects our Christian foundation and encourages pupils to live out our values in daily life.

Big Questions

Why are we here?
Why do worldviews change?
What is religion?
How can worldviews and religions be expressed?
How do worldviews and religion affect our daily lives?
How can we live together in harmony and bring joy when we have different worldviews?

At Chalfont St Peter Church of England Academy, we follow the Oxford Diocese Board of Education (ODBE) scheme of work. It takes pupils on a journey through a range of concepts driven by three core strands: Beliefs and Questions, Community and Identity and Reality and Truth. These strands create connections between substantive and disciplinary knowledge, as well as opportunities for the development of personal knowledge. The ultimate aim is to develop curiosity in pupils and equip them for future learning about, as well as enabling them to make sense of, the complex and diverse world of religious and non-religious worldviews.

The curriculum for RE aims to ensure that all pupils:

Know about and understand a range of religions and worldviews, so that they can:

describe, explain and analyse beliefs and practices, recognising and respecting the diversity which exists within and between communities and amongst individuals;
identify, investigate and respond to questions posed, and responses offered by some of the sources of wisdom found in religious and worldviews;
appreciate and appraise the nature, significance and impact of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning.

Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and worldviews, so that they can:

reasonably explain their ideas about how beliefs, practices and forms of expression influence individuals and communities;
express with increasing discernment their personal reflections and critical responses to questions and teachings about identity, diversity, meaning and value, including ethical issues;
appreciate and appraise varied dimensions of religion or a worldview.

Gain and deploy skills needed to successfully engage with religions and worldviews, so that they can:

find out about and investigate key concepts and questions of belonging, meaning, purpose and truth, responding creatively;
enquire into what enables different individuals and communities to live together respectfully for the wellbeing of all;
articulate beliefs, values and commitments clearly in order to explain why they might be important in their own and other people’s lives.

Beliefs and Questions will focus on theology, looking at the core beliefs and diverse interpretations of text, symbols and teachings of our curriculum religions and worldviews.

Community and Identity will focus on Human and Social Science using sources to examine practices and human expressions of religious and non-religious beliefs.

Reality and Truth will focus on philosophy and ethics, looking at how people decide what is true and reliable drawing on the worldviews covered in the curriculum. Pupils will have the opportunity to explore the wider concept of what a worldview is and how people reach those ideas.

Implementation

Our RE curriculum is carefully sequenced and ambitious, ensuring pupils build on prior knowledge and develop critical thinking and reflective skills. Teaching is enriched through engaging activities, including visits, visitors, and collective worship, all aligned with our Christian vision and values. We provide regular, high-quality RE lessons that meet statutory requirements and the Church of England’s Statement of Entitlement, with adaptations to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND. Staff receive ongoing subject-specific professional development, supported by whole-school policies that prioritise RE as a core part of our curriculum. Collective worship and spiritual development opportunities, such as prayer spaces, are integrated to deepen pupils’ spiritual understanding and personal growth.

The ODBE scheme of work has units of work written by teachers, working in collaboration with RE experts. The units focus on the core content and the disciplinary lens appropriate to that unit. Prior and future learning is included to ensure that every lesson is clearly part of the overall aim.

Depth is developed largely but not exclusively through the teaching of Christian worldviews. Within each year group, the concepts explored in the worldviews units link with the Christianity units as well as develop ideas from the previous year’s teaching.

The scheme is also in line with the Buckinghamshire Locally Agreed Syllabus.

Parents have the legal right to withdraw their children from Religious Education. Any parent considering this course of action should contact the Headteacher and explain their reasons for withdrawal in writing.

Impact

Pupils will know more and be able to give an age-appropriate, coherent account of Christianity and the other worldviews covered. They will be able to ask questions, use a range of sources and skills to explore traditions taught and have developed curiosity about how and why people think and act. They will know that there is always more to learn about religious and non-religious worldviews. Pupils will understand that there are different ways of interpreting texts, and that different people reach different conclusions about what is true, good, right and wrong. Outcomes and progression are highlighted within the long-term plan and adapted to demonstrate our values and vision.

Through our RE provision, pupils at Chalfont St Peter C of E Academy develop a strong sense of identity and belonging, grounded in Christian values and an appreciation of diversity. They demonstrate respect and compassion for others and are equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate complex moral and spiritual questions. Pupils’ progress in RE is evident in their ability to articulate their beliefs thoughtfully and respectfully, showing increasing theological literacy and spiritual awareness. Our school community thrives as pupils live out the promise of John 10:10, embracing life to the full with joy, resilience, and a commitment to justice and service.