Religious Education

Our Curriculum:

At Bedford Primary School, we recognise that the curriculum we deliver is the toolkit we send our children out into the world with. It reflects our context, core values and the kind of citizens we want them to be. We have to be ambitious for them and prepare them for a rapidly changing digital world.

"RE gets to the heart of what it means to be human, to live and to be part of this amazing and wonderful planet."

Louise Hutton and Dawn Cox

The skills of a great Religious Education student:

Throughout the subject of Religious Education, our pupils will also demonstrate additional traits from our Bedford Learner Profile including creative thinking, good communication and the ability to overcome personal barriers. They will listen to and respect the views of others, understand the importance of equality and be responsible members of the community. Finally, they will recognise what healthy and positive friendships and relationships look like.

Our vision for Religious Education:

At Bedford, we are passionate about Religious Education lessons giving children the opportunity to think for themselves, share their own viewpoint, belief or argument and give a reason for this view. Our aim is to move beyond knowledge rich sessions and ensure that children are provided with the chance to make meaningful links and apply the learning from R.E. lessons to their own life and the world today.

Religious Education at Bedford:

At the end of Key Stage 1

I can recall and name different beliefs and practices, including festivals, worship, rituals and ways of life, and find out about the meanings behind them.
I can retell and suggest meanings to some religious and moral stories. I can explore and discuss sacred writings and sources of wisdom and recognising the communities from which they come.
I can recognise some different symbols and actions which express a community’s way of life, appreciating some similarities between communities.
I can ask and respond to questions about what communities do, and why. I can identify what difference belonging to a community might mean.
I can tell you different ways of expressing identity and belonging.
I notice and respond sensitively to some similarities between different religions and worldviews.
I ask questions about belonging, meaning and truth and can express my own ideas and opinions in response.
I can find out about and respond with ideas to examples of co-operation between people who are different.
I can find out about questions of right and wrong and begin to express my own ideas and opinions.

At the end of Key Stage 2

I can explain how history and culture can influence an individual and how some question these influences.
I can explore eyewitness accounts and how these events may be explained through psychological or theological explanations and different ways of seeing the world.
I can discuss my own and other’s spiritual experiences and find connections between communities.
I can explain the religions and worldviews which I encounter clearly, reasonably and coherently.
I can develop insight and start to analyse the impact of diversity within a community.
I can discuss the nature of religion and compare the main disciplines which we have studied.
I can explore and make personal informed responses to ultimate questions.
I can discuss issues about community cohesion and demonstrate understanding of different views.
I can explore moral and ethical questions using examples.