Intent, Implementation and Impact

Intent

At Eastgate Academy, we are committed to empower and inspire our children with an exciting and positive Religious Education that is taught in accordance with the Norfolk Agreed syllabus (2019). Through this, learners have the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of religions while contributing to their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. It places specific emphasis on pupils valuing themselves and others, on the role of the family and the community, on the celebration of diversity in society through understanding similarities and differences.

In doing this we will:

• Include knowledge and reference to religious and nonreligious beliefs and worldviews, practices and ways of life.

• Develop knowledge and understanding of all members that make up our rich and diverse community.

• Encourage visits to local places of worship, as well as welcome visits by members of faith communities to school.

• Develop understanding of concepts and mastery of skills to make sense of religion and belief, at an appropriate level of challenge for their age.

• Develop positive attitudes and values and to reflect and relate their learning in RE to their own experience.

• Have the opportunity to learn that there are those who do not hold religious beliefs and have their own philosophical perspectives.

Implementation

At Eastgate Academy, we believe it is important that children have a safe environment where they can confidently agree, disagree and express themselves freely. Through enquiry-led sessions, our RE education offers children the opportunities to reflect and discuss different ideas and beliefs. We engage children through the use of genuine religious artefacts and texts, making the most of children’s natural curiosity about their world. Once the children are engaged, pupils co-construct the enquiry within the learning objectives. Throughout the unit of work, children explore, analyse and evaluate their understanding of their enquiry. Finally, pupils express the knowledge and understanding they have gained through the unit of work to answer their core question; with the opportunity for the teacher to assess whether pupils meet the age-related expectations, if appropriate.

Impact

Our RE curriculum enables pupils to appreciate and explore their own, and others’, beliefs - as well as their impact on society. It helps them develop a clear understanding of the significance religion has locally as well as in the wider world. Children are given the encouragement and skills to question, debate and discuss varying viewpoints. Pupils’ progress is assessed by how well they are able to hold balanced and well-informed conversations about religion, worldviews and specific features within both. Assessment for learning is at the heart of teacher planning; our goal is to ensure pupils can make sense of the complex world in which we live. RE at Eastgate Academy is primarily about enabling pupils to become free thinkers, critical participants of public discussions, who can make informed judgements about important religious matters and beliefs which shape the global landscape.