Religious Education

Intent

At Chalfont St Peter C of E Academy, our RE curriculum is designed to inspire and nurture every pupil so they flourish spiritually, morally and academically in line with our school vision: Bringing joy…inspiring success. Our work in RE is rooted in the belief that every pupil should “live life to the full”(John 10:10). This biblical foundation underpins the curriculum’s intent: to help pupils encounter beliefs and big questions in ways that cultivate hope, purpose and human flourishing.

As a Church of England school we place Christianity at the heart of RE while also giving careful and respectful attention to other worldviews. RE is therefore both an academic subject and a distinctively Christian contribution to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Through RE we aim to nurture pupils who live the school’s Christian values — generosity, compassion, respect, justice, faithfulness and courage — in everyday life.

The Overarching Aims of RE at CSPA

1. To understand the nature, role and influence of religion and worldviews, locally, nationally, and globally.

2. To reflect on questions of meaning, purpose and value.

3. To formulate reasoned opinion and argument.

4. To enter into meaningful dialogue with people of different beliefs and backgrounds, appreciating and celebrating diversity, recognising what we hold in common, and respecting a shared humanity that can be experienced, expressed, and responded to in diverse ways.

These aims are pursued so that pupils not only gain knowledge of religion and worldviews but also learn how our Christian vision and the promise of John 10:10 shape the way our community lives and serves others.

“RE is the opportunity to explore a major and distinctive dimension of what it means to be a person: the search for meaning, purpose and value in a wondrous but also often confusing and sometimes threatening world. RE offers pupils the chance to raise and reflect on perennial questions about life. In doing this, it draws on the rich history of the major religious traditions and other worldviews in Britain, giving due prominence to Christianity to reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain, are in the main, Christian.”

(The Buckinghamshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education).

Our Christian vision — “bringing joy…inspiring success” — and the promise of John 10:10 are central to why RE matters at CSPA. RE gives pupils a language for hope and an opportunity to explore how faith motivates compassion, service and justice in the world. In this way RE actively supports pupils to become reflective, resilient and service-minded citizens who can contribute positively to school, church and wider community. 

Through our CSPA RE curriculum, pupils learn more about themselves, the world and their place in it from studying religion and worldviews which have influenced the lives of others and have influenced the development of cultures. RE at CSPA is inclusive, engaging pupils of any religious faith or none and of all academic abilities and backgrounds. The RE curriculum challenges pupils to question and explore their own and others’ understanding of the world, raising questions of identity, meaning , purpose and value. It contributes positively and powerfully to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils.

Implementation 

Religious Education at CSPA is timetabled once a week. Each lesson is 1 hour. In addition, there is daily collective worship (see the CSPA Collective Worship Policy). 

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. 

Our RE curriculum has been constructed using the suggested scheme written by the Oxford Diocese Board of Education (updated in 2023), The Buckinghamshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (2022-2027) and ‘Understanding Christianity’. Our curriculum meets the Church of England’s Statement of Entitlement.

Collective worship should be used deliberately to reinforce RE learning. At least one planned worship each half term will link directly to an RE enquiry and show how the Christian message of flourishing (John 10:10) relates to pupils’ learning and behaviour.

Teachers use the RE, curriculum map, curriculum overviews and medium term plans to create their own short term planning (teaching slides) for each lesson. 

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 also be able to explain, in age-appropriate terms, how the Christian promise of “life to the full” (John 10:10) and our school values shape choices, attitudes and actions. RE at CSPA aims not only for knowledge but for visible growth in compassion, service and moral reasoning that reflects our 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.

Learning is recorded in books and every CSPA pupil has a dedicated RE book. This book demonstrates learning in RE as part of a journey, rather than as unconnected elements. Progress over time for each pupil can also be monitored. 

Assessment forms a crucial part in planning for effective RE. Our approach to assessment includes all methods - formative and summative, self and peer assessment. Assessment tasks (summative assessment) are included in the curriculum overview and medium term plan for the end of each topic/unit. Teachers will record the assessment outcomes to inform their end of year teacher assessment/judgment of each pupil. This assessment is recorded and tracked on iTrack.