Religious Education

Our R.E. curriculum complements Kenilworth's school vision, 'High Aspirations Today, Inspiring the Leaders of Tomorrow' by encouraging children to think deeply, ask big questions and engage with the world around them with curiosity and compassion. Through learning about diverse beliefs and practices, children develop respect and a celebration of differences, while enquiry and reflection nurture self-belief, resilience and moral courage. By encouraging children to see the world through others' eyes, religious education also fosters deep empathy, helping pupils grow into thoughtful, respectful individuals who are ready to become leaders in a diverse and interconnected world. 

Intent

At Kenilworth Primary School, we believe that Religious Education is a crucial part of a child's personal development and education for life in modern Britain as well as the wider world. 

Our vision is to provide a rich, respectful and inclusive R.E. curriculum that enables children to explore a variety of religious and non-religious worldviews. Through this, we aim to develop their understanding of the beliefs, practices and values that shape people's lives, helping them to grow into thoughtful empathetic and open-minded individuals. 

Our R.E. curriculum encourages pupils to:

  • Ask meaningful questions about life, belief and identify. 
  • Develop respect for others, regardless of their beliefs. 
  • Reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences. 
  • Understand why religious celebrations are meaningful to others and to be able to share in that joy when others are celebrating. 

Implementation

At Kenilworth, we actively encourage our children to approach every Religious Education lesson as open-minded theologians: curious, reflective and respective of different beliefs and worldviews.

The SACRE scheme supports this approach by providing a rich and balanced curriculum that nurtures children's ability to think deeply, ask meaningful questions and make sense of the world around them through the lens or religion and worldviews. 

As well as gaining knowledge, our children are encouraged to reflect on how religious and non-religious beliefs are expressed and lived out in real life. They explore how people put their faith or values into action through celebrations, daily practices and acts of kindness and justice. This supports pupils in making links to their own lives and communities, and in developing a sense of identity, belonging and responsibility. 

We also regularly adapt our lesson plans to ensure that significant religious celebrations and observances are acknowledged and highlighted as they occur. Children and their families are encouraged to share their own celebrations, creating opportunities for immersive, interactive learning that brings R.E. to life. This not only helps all pupils grow in awareness and respect but also allows children to feel proud of their own identities and traditions. 

In Key Stage 1, R.E. lessons focus on building curiosity and early understanding of a range of religions and worldviews. Children are introduced to key stories, celebrations and beliefs from Christianity, Islam, Judaism and other worldviews. 

  • Open-minded theologians in KS1 are encouraged to explore with wonder, asking simple but deep questions such as, 'Why do people pray?' or 'What makes a place special?'
  • They begin to recognise similarities and differences between people and beliefs, supporting our value of celebrating difference.
  • Through storytelling, role play and creative activities, they begin to express their own thoughts with self-belief and respect. 

As children mature in lower Key Stage 2, R.E. deepens to include more complex themes such as identity, belief, authority and belonging. They learn about Hinduism and Sikhism in more depth, as well as non-religious worldviews like Humanism. 

  • Pupils are encouraged to build curiosity in their thinking by considering multiple perspectives on questions like, 'What is God like?' or 'How do religious leaders help communities?'
  • They explore how religious and moral teachings can help people make decisions and show moral courage when discussing issues such as fairness and justice. 
  • Empathy is fostered through learning about how faith shapes everyday life for people around the world.

R.E. lessons in Years 5 and 6 become even more analytical and reflective. Pupils explore deeper theological, philosophical and ethical questions. 

  • As open-minded theologians, they engage in structured debate and enquiry-based learning, developing their ability to respectfully challenge ideas and articulate their own responses with confidence and self-belief. 
  • They begin to explore common themes across religious - such as justice, peace, love and forgiveness - reinforcing our school's values and promoting a sense of shared humanity.
  • Pupils are encouraged to reflect on their own worldview and how it influences their choices and behaviour. 

This consistent, values-led approach ensures that R.E. at Kenilworth is not only academically rigorous but also personally enriching. Children are supported to become informed, respectful and courageous thinkers - living our our motto: High Aspirations Today, Inspiring the Leaders of Tomorrow.

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Impact

By the time they leave Kenilworth Primary School, our pupils will:

  • Have a well-rounded understanding of a range of faiths and beliefs. 
  • Be confident in expressing their thoughts and asking thoughtful questions about religion and values. 
  • Show respect, tolerance and curiosity when learning about others. 
  • Be equipped to take their place in a diverse and inclusive society with empathy and understanding. 

We assess learning through discussion, written work, pupil responses and ongoing teacher observations. Children's voice are valued and their ideas are reflected in curriculum development. R.E. plays an important role in developing the whole child and contributes meaningfully to our school's wider values and vision. 

Pupil Voice: What R.E. means to us at Kenilworth

We regularly ask our children what they think and feel about R.E. Here are some of their thoughts:

"I like learning about different people and their special celebrations."

"R.E. helps me understand why people do things in different ways and that it's okay."

"It makes me think about what I believe and how to be kind to others."