At Elmhurst, we believe that RE is an important curriculum subject. Our enriching curriculum helps our children across all key stages to develop their spiritual, moral, social, and cultural compass in our local community and the wider world, bringing a deep sense of community cohesion. This curriculum provides a space for learning about people, cultures, and faiths. It fosters their capacity to embrace, tolerate, comprehend, and value the beliefs and values held by others.
At Elmhurst, we exceed the breadth of the National Curriculum, we adhere to the guidance of the Newham Agreed Syllabus (NAS), as well as adjust the plans to reflect the high standards we expect from our pupils. The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) has approved the NAS curriculum, which is also flexible and allows us to go beyond the scope of their suggestions. Our adapted scheme of work allows our children to open their minds and leads to a deeper understanding and greater awareness of the world and global challenges. More importantly, it is open and objective; it does not seek to impose religious beliefs on young people nor compromise the integrity of their own views when looking at other religions and worldviews. It endeavours to promote a positive attitude towards people, respecting their right to hold different beliefs from their own.
In Religious Education (RE), we prioritise meeting the individual needs of all our students; adapting our lessons to cater to different learning styles and supporting students with special educational needs. RE is taught for one hour per week throughout each half-term, aligning our units of study with relevant festivals whenever possible. This approach provides meaningful opportunities for learning and celebration as we explore different religions and festivals. Students' work in RE is recorded in books with diverse outcomes such as written pieces, reflections, Venn diagrams, artwork, and photos.
We encourage students to describe, explain, and analyse beliefs and practices while recognizing the diversity within and between communities. RE allows students to investigate concepts of belonging, meaning, purpose, truth, and respectful coexistence. Through Philosophy for Children (P4C) lessons enriched in our curriculum, students engage in child-led discussions and debates, developing their oracy skills and articulating their beliefs, values, and commitments in their own lives and in the lives of others.
All year groups visit at least 1 or 2 places of worship a year, and all year groups have visitors from different faiths who host talks and workshops with the children. The majority of our visitors originate from the borough, aiming to familiarise children with the diverse and inclusive nature of the multi-faith, multicultural community to which they belong.
At Elmhurst, we place great importance on acknowledging and commemorating the rich tapestry of religions and cultures present within our school community. Through engaging festival assemblies and vibrant multicultural evenings, we provide our students with meaningful opportunities to learn about and appreciate different traditions. We warmly extend invitations to parents to join us in these assemblies. This inclusive approach not only encourages our students to appreciate the vibrant diversity around them but also enables our parents to embrace the dynamic community in which we coexist.
To enhance our curriculum, we prioritise the personal development of our teachers and coordinator, keeping our lessons up to date and relevant. We collaborate with Claire Clinton, our borough advisor for RE, who provides various training sessions for our teachers, including ECT training, P4C sessions involving children, and regular RE network meetings for coordinators. We encourage team teaching and close collaboration between year groups and the coordinator to adapt and improve lessons together, ensuring progression and deepening children's understanding of different religions.
Our approach includes teaching less commonly known religions like Judaism and Buddhism, broadening our children's knowledge of the wider world and diverse communities beyond our local borough. Our aim is to provide a balanced curriculum that exposes our students to all major religions and important festivals by the end of their primary schooling.
Please take a look at our RE Curriculum Map.
If you would like to know more about RE in Newham, please take a look at the Newham Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.
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