Religious Education (RE)

Curriculum Overview

At Malpas Alport Primary School, Religious Education plays a vital role in developing respectful, reflective and informed citizens. Through the study of religion and worldviews, pupils explore the beliefs, practices and values that shape individuals, communities and societies locally, nationally and globally.

Our RE curriculum aims to:

• Develop secure knowledge and understanding of a range of religious and non-religious worldviews.
• Foster curiosity, respect and openness towards people whose beliefs and experiences may differ from their own.
• Promote the fundamental British Values of democracy, individual liberty, mutual respect, tolerance, and the rule of law.
• Enable pupils to understand the diversity of modern Britain and their place within an increasingly interconnected world.
• Encourage pupils to ask challenging questions about meaning, purpose, identity, belonging and ethics.
• Equip children with the knowledge and skills to engage thoughtfully with different perspectives, challenge stereotypes and discrimination, and celebrate diversity.
• Develop pupils' ability to reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences whilst respecting the views of others.
• Support pupils in becoming compassionate, informed and responsible members of society.

Our curriculum recognises that pupils come from a variety of faith and cultural backgrounds. We aim to ensure that every child feels valued, represented and included within their learning experiences.

Implementation

At Malpas Alport Primary School, Religious Education follows the Cheshire West and Chester Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. Learning is carefully sequenced to build substantive knowledge of religions and worldviews alongside disciplinary knowledge, enabling pupils to think critically, ask meaningful questions and make informed connections between beliefs, practices and lived experiences.

Through an enquiry-based approach, pupils investigate significant questions about religion, belief and human experience. Learning begins with children's own experiences and understanding before broadening their knowledge of diverse faith and non-religious communities.

We bring RE to life through a wide range of experiences, including:

• High-quality enquiry and discussion-based lessons.
• Opportunities to explore beliefs, values and worldviews through reflection and debate.
• Visits to places of worship and engagement with local faith communities.
• Visits and workshops from faith representatives and members of diverse communities.
• Exploration of sacred texts, artefacts, stories and religious practices.
• The use of high-quality texts, multimedia resources and real-life case studies.
• Opportunities to compare different religious and non-religious perspectives on ethical and philosophical questions.
• Inclusive collective worship and reflective opportunities that promote shared values, respect and community whilst recognising and valuing diversity.

Pupils are encouraged to think critically about the validity and reliability of different sources, explore multiple viewpoints and develop informed responses to complex questions. This supports the development of respectful dialogue and prepares pupils for life in modern Britain.

The curriculum is underpinned by progressive knowledge and skills documents which ensure learning builds systematically from EYFS to Year 6. This progression enables pupils to deepen their understanding of religion and worldviews while developing disciplinary skills such as investigation, interpretation, evaluation, reflection and critical thinking.

Impact

By the time pupils leave Malpas Alport Primary School, they will have developed a secure understanding of a range of religious and non-religious worldviews and the influence these have on individuals and communities.

Pupils will:

• Demonstrate respect, empathy and understanding towards people from different backgrounds, cultures and belief systems.
• Understand how religion and worldviews contribute to the diversity of modern Britain and the wider world.
• Engage confidently in discussion about beliefs, values, identity and ethics using appropriate subject vocabulary.
• Ask thoughtful questions and respond to challenging issues with increasing maturity and sensitivity.
• Recognise similarities and differences between religions and worldviews, avoiding stereotypes and misconceptions.
• Apply critical thinking skills when considering different viewpoints and sources of authority.
• Reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences while respecting the rights of others to hold different views.
• Understand how shared values can help communities live and work together positively.
• Be well prepared for the next stage of their education and for active participation in life in modern British society.

Through Religious Education, pupils develop not only knowledge and understanding but also the qualities of curiosity, compassion, integrity, respect and open-mindedness that support lifelong learning and responsible citizenship.

Collective Worship and Spiritual Development

Collective worship at Malpas Alport Primary School is inclusive, invitational and inspirational. It provides opportunities for reflection, celebration and spiritual development while promoting our school values and a sense of belonging.

Through assemblies, reflection opportunities, celebration events and engagement with visitors from different backgrounds, pupils develop an understanding of diverse beliefs and traditions. Collective worship promotes mutual respect, inclusion and community cohesion while allowing pupils the freedom to reflect on ideas and values in ways that are meaningful to them.

These experiences contribute to pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and help prepare them to flourish in a diverse and inclusive society.

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