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Woodlands Primary School

Woodlands Primary School

Learn, explore and
grow together

Religious Education

"The principal aim of RE is to engage pupils in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religion and world views address, so that they can develop the understanding and skills needed to appreciate and appraise varied responses to these questions, as well as develop responses of their own." Kent Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.

What does this mean for us at Woodlands?

Religious education (RE) is an integral part of our curriculum. It is relevant to us all, whether we follow a particular religion or none. We enjoy learning about different world religions by examining artefacts, reading books, listening to stories, watching videos and, where possible, we love to have speakers in from different faiths. We value everyone's ideas and enjoy exploring our own thoughts and beliefs alongside those of others. We learn to treat everyone's opinion with respect (one of our main core values). Our varied curriculum allows time for reflection and thinking about 'big questions' in life, for example, why do some people think life is a journey and what significant events mark this journey? As we progress through the school, we are encouraged to examine our own beliefs and decide on our own code of values. 

Welcome to one of our lessons - we are having fun exploring artefacts. What is this? What does it do? What is it used for? Why is it important?

             

 

We love Rev Sharon coming to visit us - she is from the local Methodist Church.

 

One of our teachers told us all about observing Ramadan as part of her faith. Now we understand why we heard her tummy rumbling!

 

Right of withdrawal - This was first granted when RE was actually religious instruction and carried with it connotations of induction into the Christian faith. RE is very different now – open, broad, exploring a range of religious and non-religious world views. However, in the UK, parents still have the right to withdraw their children from RE on the grounds that they wish to provide their own religious education (School Standards and Framework Act 1998 S71 (3)). This will be the parents’ responsibility. If you would like to withdraw your child from RE, please speak to Mrs Lonie.