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Religious Education
Intent
At Barnes Primary School, we provide an ambitious and inclusive Religious Education curriculum which helps pupils make sense of a complex, diverse and multi-religious world. Guided by the Richmond-upon-Thames SACRE Agreed Syllabus, our curriculum enables pupils to develop accurate and balanced knowledge of religious and non-religious worldviews, while encouraging curiosity, respect, empathy and thoughtful questioning.
From Early Years to Year 6, pupils learn about different worldviews and religions including:
- Christianity
- Buddhism
- Hinduism
- Islam
- Judaism
- Sikhism
- Humanism
[insert 'symbols of religions' picture here]
Through this, pupils develop substantive knowledge, disciplinary knowledge and personal knowledge, helping them understand what different people believe, how beliefs are expressed and how worldviews may shape the way people live.
Implementation
RE is taught through a carefully sequenced curriculum which builds knowledge over time and guided by the Richmond Upon Thames SACRE (can you link this https://richmond.gov.uk/media/18564/sacre_agreed_syllabus.pdf). Learning begins in Early Years through hands-on experiences linked to children’s own lives, celebrations, stories and beliefs, before developing into more structured enquiry and comparison across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.
From KS1 onwards, our curriculum is organised through recurring lenses:
- Celebrations
- Rites of passage and ceremonies
- Living a good life
- Worship and prayer
These lenses help pupils revisit and deepen learning, make connections across religions and worldviews, and understand how beliefs are lived out in practice. Teaching includes explicit vocabulary, questioning, discussion, stories, artefacts, visits, visitors and opportunities for personal reflection.
Assessment is ongoing and formative, using questioning, discussion, pupil voice and written outcomes to identify what pupils know, remember and understand. This supports teachers to address misconceptions and ensure all pupils, including those with SEND and additional needs, can access and make progress within the curriculum.
Impact
Pupils leave Barnes Primary School with a secure foundational understanding of the main religions and non-religious worldviews studied. They can recall key beliefs, stories, symbols, artefacts and vocabulary, and use this knowledge to make meaningful connections and comparisons.
Pupils at Barnes become increasingly confident in asking thoughtful questions, listening respectfully to others and explaining their own ideas. They understand that beliefs and practices can vary between individuals and communities, and they learn to avoid over-simplification and stereotypes when discussing religion and belief.
Through RE, pupils develop an open-minded and empathetic approach to the world around them. They are able to listen respectfully, ask thoughtful questions and recognise that people’s beliefs and practices may be different from their own. By the end of Year 6, pupils are well prepared for the next stage of learning and for life in a diverse society.
RE lessons also provide an opportunity for children to examine their own opinions and perspectives, beginning to unpick what their worldview is and how it has been influenced by where they live, their experiences and their surroundings. This begins with our youngest children and continues to evolve as they grow and learn.
Curriculum Maps
At Barnes Primary School, we follow government guidance that collective worship should follow a mainly Christian theme. However, since RE is about teaching children about religion, not teaching them to be religious, we ensure that we also consider other religions and worldviews alongside these. Through assemblies and shared experiences, pupils are encouraged to develop respect, empathy and an understanding of different religious and non-religious worldviews. Our approach supports the school's commitment to community cohesion and helping children make sense of life in a diverse, multi-religious and multi-secular society.
Throughout the year, assemblies explore key Religious Education themes and celebrations from a range of religions and worldviews studied across the school. Children are regularly invited to share their learning, experiences and reflections with others, helping to celebrate diversity and deepen understanding across the school community.
We are fortunate to welcome Father Stephen, Vicar of St Michael's Church, Barnes, who leads age-appropriate assemblies on different aspects of Christianity and provides children with opportunities to learn about Christian beliefs, traditions and practices.
[picture of Father Stephen]
Collective worship always includes a time for reflection. Children are encouraged to think about what they have learned, what they have enjoyed and how they have shown kindness to others. We also regularly explore quotations from religions and worldviews studied within our curriculum, discussing their meaning and considering how the messages might inspire positive actions in our own lives.
[screenshots from assemblies - one of quote, one of 'reflection' (something I learned...)]
Our collective worship programme encourages children to be thoughtful, respectful and reflective members of the community, while developing an appreciation of the beliefs, values and experiences of others.
At Barnes Primary School, we believe that Religious Education is brought to life through first-hand experiences and meaningful encounters with people, places and traditions. Experiential learning helps children develop a deeper understanding of religious and non-religious worldviews, while fostering curiosity, respect and empathy. This approach reflects the Richmond SACRE guidance, which emphasises the importance of visitors, places of worship, artefacts and opportunities for reflection as part of high-quality RE.
Throughout their time at Barnes, children visit a range of places of worship, including a church, mosque, synagogue, mandir, pagoda and gurdwara. These visits allow pupils to experience religious buildings first-hand, ask questions, observe practices and gain a greater understanding of how beliefs are expressed in everyday life. The curriculum is further enriched through welcoming visitors from different faith and belief communities who share their own experiences and help pupils understand religion and worldview as something lived and meaningful.
Children also participate in a range of celebrations and events throughout the year. We are proud to celebrate Harvest at St Michael's Church, led by Year 5 pupils, and Christmas at St Michael's Church, led by Year 3 pupils. These opportunities allow children to participate in community traditions while deepening their understanding of the significance these celebrations hold for many people.
[1 picture of Harvest festival, 1 picture of Christmas concert]
Experiential learning also enables pupils to engage with religious traditions in memorable and enjoyable ways. Children may take part in activities such as a Songkran water celebration and a Holi Festival of Colour, helping them understand the importance of these festivals through experience as well as study.
[1 picture of Songkran, 1 picture of Holi]
Across the school, pupils have opportunities to closely examine artefacts from a range of religions and worldviews. They learn about the significance of these objects, how they are used and why it is important to treat them with care and respect. Through handling artefacts, meeting visitors and visiting places of worship, children develop a richer understanding of the diversity of beliefs and practices within our local and global communities.
These experiences help pupils to see RE as a living subject, developing knowledge alongside open-mindedness, respect and an appreciation of the beliefs and traditions of others.
