RE
At Denby First School RE plays a significant role in developing children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. It is neither a core nor a foundation subject; the 1988 Education Act states that ‘Religious Education has equal standing in relation to core subjects of the National Curriculum in that it is compulsory for all registered pupils’. Our curriculum promotes open mindedness and encourages children to be respectful and understanding citizens who are sensitive to the beliefs of others. RE lessons encourage children to explore, engage and reflect on a wide range of religious beliefs and practices. Our Religious Education curriculum is underpinned by our school’s adopted Christian Values: kindness, respect, courage, forgiveness, love and patience. Linking closely with our school vision ‘Building futures shaped by faith, knowledge and love.
At Denby First School the teaching of Religious Education:
- supports children in developing their understanding and their ability to hold balanced and informed conversations about beliefs and religions.
- is an essential and central part of all areas of the curriculum, linking SMSC, fundamental British Values and core Christian Values.
- is structured for progression, and to allow enquiry based learning.
- allows children to gain knowledge of different religions and world views.
- encourages the development of free thinking, and compassionately aware adults.
Implementation
As a Church School we follow the Kirklees RE Agreed Syllabus and the Diocese Understanding Christianity.
We encourage and promote teaching and learning through an active approach that encourages the children to reflect on their own views and experiences.
Christianity and other world views are studied with an appreciation of differing denominations and global differences. The curriculum is structured to allow opportunities to revisit learning and deepen understanding and thinking over time. Children learn about other faiths and are given opportunities throughout the curriculum to raise questions about faith and the various religions of the world.
The syllabus is underpinned by three core elements, which are woven together to provide breadth and balance within teaching and learning about religions and beliefs. These elements are: Making sense of beliefs, Making connections and Understanding the impact.
Impact
At Denby, we see the RE curriculum impacting the children in the following ways:
- extending their knowledge and understanding of religions and beliefs
- developing the ability to articulate, discuss and reflect on core theological concepts
- reflecting on questions of meaning, offering their own thoughtful and informed insights into religious and secular world-views
- exploring ultimate questions of beliefs and values in relation to a range of contemporary issues in an ever-changing society
- encouraging children to discussion, reflection and debate.
Creation
Class 1 have been learning about what Christians think about God. We have heard the story of Creation from the Bible and the children thought of lots of different words to describe God. Josh said he thought that God was ‘powerful’. Oliver thought God must be a little bit ‘magic’. And Freddie said that he thought that ‘God is a superhero!’
We all think that God must be very caring to give life to all creatures, even those that are dangerous, like jellyfish. We really enjoyed creating our own model jellyfish to remind us that all of God’s creatures are special, just like Him.
The Easter Journey
On Tuesday 22nd March our Year 5 pupils joined their peers from Farnley Tyas and Thurstonland to attend The Easter Journey at Almondbury Methodist Church.
The children moved through different scenes from the Easter Journey, including Palm Sunday, The Last Supper, The Crucifixion and The Resurrection. Some scenes involved the children acting, and others were scenes with story tellers or media images. The event finished with the children taking part in small group discussions.
