Religious Education Curriculum Statement

Intent

At Witchampton Church of England First School, RE is rooted in our Christian vision:

“Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us.” – Ephesians 5:2

Our curriculum develops pupils’ religious, theological and philosophical understanding, with Christianity at its heart alongside a range of religions and non-religious worldviews.

Through RE, pupils develop knowledge, curiosity and confidence to explore big questions about faith, belief, meaning and the world around them. Our values of Love, Courage and Inspiration encourage pupils to listen respectfully, celebrate difference and develop their own thoughtful responses.

RE supports pupils to flourish academically, spiritually and personally, developing their understanding of themselves, others and the wider world.

Implementation

We teach RE through the Dorset Locally Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education – REFresh 2025–2030, using its enquiry-based Religion and Worldviews approach.

Learning is carefully sequenced so that pupils build knowledge and vocabulary over time. Children explore Christianity in depth alongside other religious and non-religious worldviews, considering different perspectives and lived experiences.

Teaching enables pupils to:

• engage with meaningful questions and experiences;
• investigate religious and non-religious worldviews;
• evaluate ideas using knowledge and critical thinking;
• express their own developing views and reflections;
• review and connect new learning with what they already know.

We draw on Understanding Christianity alongside the Dorset syllabus to deepen pupils’ understanding of Christian concepts and theology.

RE is enriched through collective worship, our local church, visitors, first-hand experiences and opportunities for spiritual reflection. Teaching is inclusive and adapted so that every pupil, including those with SEND or disadvantage, can participate, achieve and flourish.

In EYFS, RE is taught explicitly and through stories, discussion, play and exploration, particularly through Understanding the World, Communication and Language and Personal, Social and Emotional Development.

Impact

Pupils develop increasingly secure and connected knowledge of Christianity, religions and worldviews. They can recall previous learning, use appropriate vocabulary, ask thoughtful questions, explain their ideas and respectfully consider different perspectives.

Assessment, pupil voice and work demonstrate that pupils know more, remember more and make meaningful connections between beliefs, practices and lived experiences.

Through RE, children learn to show love, act with courage, respect difference and understand how beliefs and values influence the way people live.