Intent

At St John’s, we follow the LDBS (London Diocesan Board for Schools) RE Primary Syllabus to provide a broad, balanced, and inclusive Religious Education curriculum. Our intent is to nurture pupils’ understanding of Christianity and other world religions, promoting respect, curiosity, and open-mindedness.

We aim to:

• Develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of key religious beliefs, practices, and values, with a particular emphasis on Christianity as outlined in the LDBS syllabus

• Encourage pupils to explore and reflect on fundamental questions about life, meaning, and purpose

• Promote spiritual development and moral awareness in a supportive and inclusive environment

• Foster respect for diverse beliefs and cultures, encouraging pupils to appreciate the importance of faith in people’s lives

• Equip pupils with the skills to engage thoughtfully and respectfully in discussions about religion and belief

Implementation

Our RE lessons are delivered weekly as a discrete subject, with clear units of work that cover:

• Core teaching about Christianity, including key beliefs, festivals, practices, and the life and teachings of Jesus

• Learning about other major world religions, such as Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, fostering understanding and respect for diverse beliefs

• Opportunities for personal reflection and discussion, where children can explore and express their own views in a respectful environment

• Enquiry-based learning, encouraging children to investigate big questions, compare beliefs, and make connections between faith and real-life situations

• Teaching the three disciplines of RE, theology, philosophy and human/social sciences

Teachers use the detailed plans and resources provided by the LDBS to ensure consistency and progression throughout the school. Lessons are designed to be inclusive, engaging, and thought-provoking, with a balance of factual knowledge, creative tasks, storytelling, and discussion. RE is enriched through visits to places of worship, guest speakers, and whole-school celebrations of religious festivals. Links are made with our school values and collective worship, supporting pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development.

Impact

Our children will be able to hold a balanced and well-informed conversation about religion and worldviews. They will be able to reflect, respond and express their own religious, spiritual and/or philosophical convictions. They will be able to make their own choices and decisions concerning religion and belief based on a deep knowledge and understanding of religions and worldviews, belief systems, values and practices. Children will have developed a deeper understanding of what it means to live life in all of its fullness.

RE Long Term Planning 2024 – 2025