Intake Primary RE long term plan
At Astrea Academy Trust, we believe that a religious education should be grounded within the lived experiences of the pupils, families and communities that we serve. We teach about
religious and non-religious worldviews from a viewpoint that understands that whilst our national way of life is “Culturally Christian”, an active understanding of Christianity as a religion is not in the lived experience of the vast majority of our pupils.
In line with the 2018 Commission on RE Final Report, our teaching of RE therefore:
• reflects the changing religious and secular non-religious diversity of the UK and the world
• is inclusive of, and relevant to, children and young people, whose worldviews may range
across the secular, religious and non-religious
• approaches the subject from the perspective of worldviews (incorporating religious and nonreligious
worldviews, personal and communal, individual and organised, plural and diverse) to
help pupils navigate the diverse, complex world around them, in relation to religion and belief.
(Extract from the Astrea agreed syllabus for RE – see link above)
INTENT
At Intake Primary Academy, we believe it is essential for all our pupils to learn from and about religion as a vital part of understanding the world around them. Our Religious Education programme is designed to be engaging and informative, helping children explore the diverse beliefs that shape our society. We aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of Christianity, as well as the other major religions represented in Great Britain. By appreciating how religious beliefs influence life choices and behaviours, we equip our pupils to make thoughtful and informed judgements about various religious and moral issues.
Religious Education plays a key role in promoting social awareness and understanding among our children. We encourage our pupils to ask questions about the world and reflect on their own beliefs and values. Our curriculum is thoughtfully crafted to spark curiosity about the rich diversity of human experiences, including both religious and non-religious perspectives. Through creativity, imagination, enquiry, debate, and discussion, we foster independent thinking, allowing our children to engage meaningfully with what they learn. In doing so, we aim to educate our pupils about religion while empowering them to become thoughtful and compassionate individuals who contribute positively to our diverse community.
IMPLEMENTATION
We use the Astrea Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education as the basis for our curriculum.
At Intake Primary Academy, taking into account the requirements and guidelines presented in the Agreed Syllabus and the community here at Intake, the following religions have been selected for study:
- Christianity
- Islam
- Judaism
- Hinduism
From the syllabus it is required that:-
Although not a requirement in the Early Years Foundation Stage setting, it provides a foundation to Christianity and a deeper understanding of themselves.
KS1 – Christianity is studied in depth; a study of Islam and an introduction to Judaism.
KS2 – Christianity is studied along with Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and other non-religious worldviews.
At our school, we really value the diverse religious backgrounds and beliefs of all our children and staff, and we don’t assume anything about their values. We think it’s important to celebrate this diversity and create a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing their personal experiences. Each religion and its community are treated with respect and sensitivity, and we love to build connections between home, school, and faith communities. We believe that exploring different religions makes learning richer for our pupils, and we focus on Religious Education that encourages open enquiry and hands-on experiences for everyone. It’s all about fostering understanding and appreciation!
IMPACT
The children at Intake Primary Academy enjoy learning about other religions and why people choose, or choose not to follow a religion. Through their R.E. learning, the children are able to make links between their own lives and those of others in their community and in the wider world, developing an understanding of other people’s cultures and ways of life. As such, R.E. is invaluable in an ever changing and shrinking world.