Through our teaching of Religious Education here at Stepgates, our aim is to deliver a curriculum that is accessible to all.  We aim to provide an engaging, stimulating and inclusive curriculum that excites our learners, as well as reflecting their interest and experiences.  That way we will maximise the outcomes for every learner so the whole child is developed and they feel successful in all they do. 

Through the teaching of Religious Education, our lessons are intended to offer a broad and rich RE curriculum which allows for the coverage of the areas prescribed in the Surrey Agreed Syllabus for Religious Studies 2017-2022, of which we follow.  We demonstrate a variety of opportunities to explore religions represented in school, across the wider community and the world.  We allow for exploration, and understanding of the children’s community and personal development and wellbeing. The lessons have an intention of providing a high quality, coherent and progressive experience of the subject, with scope for cross-curricular learning. Through each unit, children will know about and understand a range of religions and world views. They will be able to identify, investigate and respond to a variety of issues. Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC), personal growth and community cohesion are featured throughout each non-statutory strand and are there to ensure opportunities for children to develop positive attitudes and values and to reflect on and relate their learning in Religious Education to their own experiences. The intent is to make sure that children understand the relevance of Religious Education in today’s modern world and how it affects our lives.

Through the breadth of our curriculum, children gain knowledge and understanding about Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.  Across both Key Stages we aim to develop the children’s ability to make reasoned and informed judgments about religious issues, beliefs and practices, while at the same time showing respect and demonstrating tolerance for the beliefs of others.  This is further in line with our School Values and wider British Values.  In KS1, children begin to look at other religions, focusing on celebrations and rituals.  In KS2, children experience a wider range of learning opportunities about the world’s religions including deeper understanding of the origin of those religions and their key stories and teachings. Throughout both key stages, emphasis on personal growth and community cohesion is evident, allowing for personal development for the children from KS1 to the end of KS2.

Through the delivery of our Religious Education curriculum, our children will have a better understanding of the religions that make up the UK landscape and how they can learn from and work alongside each other to create community cohesion.  All children will be more informed about their position in the world, and the decisions they can make impacting their future. All children in school will be able to talk confidently about their wellbeing, moral and cultural development for the society in which they live. The RE curriculum promotes inquisitive minds, respect, tolerance and understanding for all those around them including themselves.  Our lessons enable high quality work to be produced and evidenced, showcasing a deep understanding of the main religions of the world, their community and their future. This evidence will be seen through using the correct vocabulary, explanations and respectful opinions, as well as cross-curricular evidence, for example religious and cultural art work, drama, craft and presentations.