Religious Education at Clanfield Junior School

At Clanfield Junior School, Religious Education (RE) is taught in line with national legal requirements. Our curriculum reflects that the religious traditions of Great Britain are primarily Christian, while also exploring the teachings and practices of other principal religions represented in our country. We have very strong links with our local Church and the wonderful Rev Anne Gothard.

We aim to create a learning environment where children show respect, tolerance, and open-mindedness towards people of all faiths and beliefs.

Through RE, pupils are encouraged to be curious, ask thoughtful questions about the world, and develop a deeper understanding of their own beliefs, values, and experiences. This approach supports the development of key British Values, including mutual respect, individual liberty, and tolerance of those with different faiths and world views.

Implementation:

We use planning and resources from the Living Difference IV syllabus, which follows a cycle of enquiry. This approach to enquiry has five key steps, which include:

• ‘Communicate and Apply’ to attend to their own and others’ experiences.
• ‘Inquire and Contextualise’ to engage with the meaning of concept words and their roles in the lives of the people encountered and studied.
• ‘Evaluate’ to discern value for others and themselves in a way dependent on the context of the enquiry.

Examples of our learning journeys:

Pupils at Clanfield Junior School learn about Christianity, Islam and Judaism. They also complete an overview study of Buddhism in Year 5 and Year 6. At least two of the four ‘golden thread’ concepts (love, special, belonging and community) are taught each year, a continuation of their Infant School curriculum. These help to broaden and deepen the pupils’ understanding of religious education throughout KS1, KS2 and KS3.

Each unit of learning begins with a ‘hook’ to support the pupils with their understanding of the concept and immerse them in the learning. Much of the RE teaching is carried out through exploring the children’s ideas and emphasis is given to positive, high quality discussion. Pupils also complete written outcomes, express their views through pieces of arts and scrutinise scripture. There are opportunities throughout the curriculum for visiting experts, trips to local places of worship and virtual visits, which further enhance the learning experience.  

Impact

Religious Education at Clanfield Junior School will develop pupils into considerate members of the community who are able to respect and appreciate other faiths, beliefs and cultures. By the end of KS2, pupils at Clanfield Junior School will be able to explain how the key concepts that they have been taught can be applied to their own lives and the lives of others and be ready to continue their learning in KS3.

Right to Withdraw from Religious Education (RE)

Parents and carers have the legal right to withdraw their child from all or part of Religious Education (RE). If you are considering this, we encourage you to speak with the school first. This allows us to explain what is taught, answer any questions, and support you in making an informed decision.

If you decide to withdraw your child, a formal request must be made in writing to the Headteacher. Please see the document below for further information.

Finding Out More About Our RE Curriculum

We believe it is important for parents, carers, and members of the community to understand what we teach and why.
You can find information about our RE curriculum by:

• Visiting the Curriculum section of our school website

• Contacting the school office to request a copy of our RE curriculum overview

• Speaking directly with your child’s class teacher or the RE Subject Lead

• Requesting a meeting if you would like to explore the curriculum in more detail

We welcome questions and are happy to provide any further information you may need.