Intent
At Otterburn Primary School, Religious Education (RE) provokes challenging questions about the meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, right and wrong and what it means to be human.
Through studying Christianity and other principal world religions such as Islam, Hinduism and Judaism, alongside non-religious worldviews such as Humanism, pupils learn about and from religion in a reflective and respectful way.
Our RE curriculum is rooted in the school’s values of “Aim high, achieve your full potential.” It reflects our commitment to providing a broad and balanced curriculum that celebrates our school’s unique rural community, recognises each child as an individual, and encourages curiosity, creativity and critical thinking.
Through RE we aim for pupils to:
- Value themselves and others.
- Understand the role of family, faith and community in belief and practice.
- Appreciate and celebrate the diversity of our world.
- Explore moral and ethical questions with empathy and fairness.
- Develop a sense of belonging, responsibility and global awareness.
RE at Otterburn contributes to pupils’ personal development by nurturing respect, resilience and reflection, and by enabling them to make meaningful connections between their learning, their community and the wider world.
Implementation
RE is taught in line with the Northumberland Agreed Syllabus, ensuring a structured progression of knowledge, understanding and skills from Early Years through to Year 6.
Learning experiences include:
- Exploring stories, artefacts and sacred texts.
- Using art, drama and discussion to express ideas.
- Meeting visitors from different faiths and visiting places of worship.
- Reflecting on personal beliefs and values.
Lessons provide a safe space for reflection, dialogue and debate, where pupils can explore questions sensitively and respond thoughtfully to local, national or global events.
Our small-school setting allows teachers to know each child individually and adapt learning to meet their needs and interests, making RE personal, engaging and inclusive.
Staff are supported through SACRE guidance and professional development to ensure accurate, confident and high-quality teaching of RE.
Assessment is continuous and focuses on how well pupils:
- Recall and apply key knowledge about religions and worldviews.
- Use subject-specific vocabulary with confidence.
- Show curiosity, respect and understanding when discussing beliefs.
RE also contributes strongly to spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development and promotes British Values of mutual respect, tolerance and understanding.
Impact
By the end of their time at Otterburn Primary School, pupils will:
- Have a secure understanding of key beliefs, practices and worldviews.
- Be able to explain their own ideas clearly and respectfully.
- Listen to and appreciate perspectives that differ from their own.
- Demonstrate empathy, tolerance and understanding in their relationships with others.
The impact of our RE curriculum is monitored through pupil voice, lesson observation and work scrutiny. These approaches ensure that pupils are developing the knowledge, skills and attitudes that prepare them to thrive as thoughtful, respectful and open-minded members of both the local and global community.