Our Aims:

Our RE curriculum is designed to ensure all pupils:

• explore what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live.
• gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion and belief.
• reflect on their own ideas and ways of living.

What does RE look like at Callowell?

Our curriculum is designed around our school community, we use this driver to propel the curriculum offer to ensure the Callowell community are at the centre. Our RE curriculum is based on the Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus, which is designed to 'deepen pupils' knowledge of religions and develop 'religious literacy.' We ensure that learning is progressive and inclusive with a focus on teaching high-quality vocabulary to improve subject specific oracy.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, children engage with RE through the Early Learning Goal 'Understanding the World,' supported by the Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus. Within this Early Learning Goal, children learn about different religious and cultural communities in our country.

In Key Stage One and Key Stage Two, children study one religion at a time, before building on learning by comparing religions, beliefs and practices studied. The curriculum is underpinned by three strands which are woven into every unit of work: making sense of belief, making connections and understanding the impact. 

At Callowell, to ensure children are provided with a broad cultural development we provide them with opportunities to extend their learning within and beyond our local community. Learning experiences can include: trips, workshops, assemblies, learning about festivals and expert visitors. 

How do we assess RE?

Our RE curriculum is designed progressively to ensure that children build on previous knowledge and skills learnt and form connections between the religions studied, as well as having opportunities to express their own ideas in response to the material they are engaging with. We use regular retrieval practice sessions within class to further support this.

By the end of each key stage, children are expected to know, apply and understand the concepts, skills and processes studied within the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus. Class teachers use formative assessment in all lessons to identify children's understanding of the RE unit questions and key knowledge taught, alongside Evidence Me and Insight. This allows us to track the attainment and progress of children throughout their school journey.