Intent
At Staunton Primary School, our Religious Education curriculum is designed in line with the Herefordshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (2025–2030). We provide a broad, coherent and well‑sequenced curriculum that builds pupils’ knowledge and skills over time, while reflecting the core values of our school community.
RE plays a vital role in developing pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding, as well as supporting the teaching of British Values. We aim to provide a safe and inclusive environment where pupils can explore a range of religions and worldviews, develop respect for diversity, and engage thoughtfully with different beliefs and practices.
Through the exploration of key questions such as:
- What do people believe?
- How do beliefs influence the ways people live?
pupils are encouraged to:
- Develop secure knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and worldviews
- Reflect on their own ideas, values and beliefs
- Ask and explore challenging questions about meaning, purpose and ethics
- Understand and question different ‘ways of knowing’
Our curriculum is designed to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain, equipping them to become respectful, informed and reflective members of society.
Implementation
RE is taught weekly and follows the Herefordshire Agreed Syllabus (2025–2030) on a 2-year rolling programme, ensuring full curriculum coverage and clear progression across year groups. Learning is carefully sequenced to build understanding over time, using a combination of systematic and thematic study.
- Systematic study allows pupils to explore one religion or worldview in depth
- Thematic study enables pupils to compare and connect ideas across different religions
Our curriculum follows a spiral model, where pupils revisit key concepts and deepen their understanding as they progress. Core concepts within religions are clearly identified, allowing pupils to recognise how beliefs, practices and values connect.
To support knowledge retention and reduce cognitive load:
- Weekly flashback questions are used to revisit prior learning
- Planned opportunities for retrieval and recall are embedded within each unit
Teaching encourages open enquiry, discussion and reflection, making RE accessible and meaningful for all pupils, including those with and without a religious background. Cross-curricular links are used where appropriate to enhance relevance and deepen understanding.
Assessment is ongoing within lessons through questioning, discussion and reflective tasks, enabling teachers to respond to pupils’ understanding and adapt teaching accordingly.
Impact
The impact of our RE curriculum is evident in pupils who:
- Demonstrate a secure understanding of a range of religions and worldviews
- Show respect, tolerance and empathy towards others’ beliefs
- Engage confidently in discussion about complex moral, ethical and philosophical questions
- Reflect thoughtfully on their own values and perspectives
- Make connections between beliefs, practices and ways of living
Pupils develop the knowledge and skills needed to navigate an increasingly diverse society, showing awareness, respect and curiosity about the world around them.
Impact is measured through pupil voice, discussion, work scrutiny and ongoing formative assessment, ensuring that all pupils make progress in their understanding of Religion and Worldviews.
Further information about RE topics taught each half‑term can be found on the school website and is shared with parents through half‑termly topic webs.
