RE

Religious Education plays a vital role in shaping the ethos and character of Bickerton Primary School. It enriches the wider curriculum and contributes meaningfully to pupils’ personal development, emotional wellbeing, and social understanding.

RE supports our commitment to British values—including respect for democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect for those of different faiths and beliefs—while deepening pupils’ understanding of the role of religion in shaping our cultural heritage and contemporary society.

RE also makes a significant contribution to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural (SMSC) development, providing opportunities for reflection, moral reasoning, empathy, and the development of a sense of identity and belonging.

Our Christian Values and Vision

As a Church of England school, we approach all that we do through our Christian Values, which are embedded throughout our curriculum and school life. These are:

  • Love and Kindness

  • Friendship

  • Teamwork

  • Wisdom

  • Honesty

  • Bravery

These values are not simply part of our ethos; they are the bedrock of our attitudes, relationships, decision-making, and curriculum design. In Religious Education, they are brought to life through the exploration of stories, texts, and practices that exemplify each value in real and meaningful ways.

We want all of our children to LIVE – life in all its fullness (John 10:10). This means equipping them to be:

  • Life-long learners

  • Immersive in their experiences and learning

  • Valuing diversity in all its forms

  • Enquiring minds who ask deep and thoughtful questions

RE plays a central role in enabling this vision by giving pupils the language, understanding and confidence to explore big ideas, appreciate the beliefs of others, and reflect on their own beliefs, values and identity.

Together, our RE curriculum and Christian values shape the kind of people our pupils become—compassionate, thoughtful, courageous and open-hearted individuals who are prepared to engage wisely and respectfully in the wider world.

 

Bickerton Primary School: Religious Education Curriculum Statement

Vision

At Bickerton Primary School, Religious Education (RE) is a core component of our broad and balanced curriculum. As a Church of England school, our RE teaching reflects our Christian vision and values, enabling all pupils to explore questions of meaning, faith, and identity in a respectful and academically rigorous way.

RE plays a key role in supporting pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, helping them to flourish personally and collectively in our diverse society.

Curriculum Aims

The RE curriculum at Bickerton Primary School is designed to:

  • Enable pupils to know about and understand Christianity as a living world faith, with particular focus on biblical texts, theological concepts and Christian practices.

  • Provide meaningful and informed dialogue with a range of world religions and non-religious worldviews, fostering respect for diversity and difference.

  • Encourage pupils to explore and reflect on their own beliefs and values in light of what they learn.

  • Equip pupils with the ability to think theologically, philosophically and ethically, using a wide range of skills such as analysis, enquiry and evaluation.

Curriculum Content and Structure

  • Christianity is the majority religion studied in each year group and constitutes at least 50% of curriculum time, as outlined in the Church of England’s Statement of Entitlement.

  • Pupils also study other principal religions represented in the UK, including Islam, Hinduism, Judaism and non-religious worldviews such as Humanism.

  • The curriculum follows the locally agreed syllabus and integrates the Understanding Christianity resource, which provides a progressive, concept-driven approach rooted in biblical theology.

  • Learning is structured around a spiral curriculum model, revisiting key concepts and ideas in increasing depth from EYFS to Year 6.

  • The curriculum is framed by enquiry questions, promoting engagement, curiosity and critical thinking.

Curriculum Time and Organisation

  • RE is taught for a minimum of 5% of curriculum time as recommended, delivered through weekly lessons, RE-themed days, and cross-curricular opportunities where appropriate.

  • Pupils are given explicit and identifiable time to study RE, with teaching adapted to be inclusive and accessible to all learners, including those with SEND.

Teaching and Learning Approach

RE is taught in a way that is both academically rigorous and personally reflective. Pupils are encouraged to:

  • Make sense of religious and non-religious beliefs and concepts.

  • Understand the impact of these beliefs in people’s lives and communities.

  • Make connections to their own lives, society and the wider world.

High-quality teaching ensures that RE is engaging, intellectually challenging and respectful of all viewpoints. Classroom environments are safe spaces where pupils can ask big questions and explore complex ideas with honesty and empathy.

Assessment and Monitoring

  • Progress in RE is assessed using end-of-unit and end-of-phase outcomes aligned with the agreed syllabus and Understanding Christianity framework.

  • Teachers use formative assessment to adapt teaching and provide feedback that supports deeper understanding.

  • The subject is monitored by the RE Subject Coordinator and SIAMS Lead through lesson observations, book scrutiny, staff consultation and pupil voice.

  • Standards in RE are reported to senior leaders and the governing body, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement.

Contribution to Whole School Life

RE contributes to the distinctively Christian ethos of the school and supports the outworking of our Christian vision. It complements collective worship and plays a vital role in promoting British values, character education, and preparation for life in modern Britain.

Through Religious Education, pupils at Bickerton Primary School develop religious literacy, enabling them to navigate the world with wisdom, compassion and integrity.

 

Religious Education at Bickerton Primary School - The Three I's

Intent

At Bickerton Primary School, Religious Education (RE) enables every child to flourish and live life in all its fullness (John 10:10). Our intent is to provide a rich and rigorous curriculum that provokes challenging questions about meaning, purpose, beliefs, and moral choices. Rooted in our Christian vision and values, RE nurtures pupils' spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development while fostering dignity and respect across all faiths and worldviews.

We aim for our pupils to:

  • Understand Christianity as a living, diverse global faith.

  • Explore a wide range of religious and non-religious worldviews, including Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Humanism.

  • Engage with challenging questions about life and existence.

  • Develop respect for others, enabling them to live well together in a diverse society.

  • Reflect on their own beliefs and values while developing theological, philosophical, and sociological understanding.

Our curriculum follows the agreed syllabus and is underpinned by a commitment to a balanced and pluralistic approach to belief, grounded in the threefold aim to: make sense of beliefs, understand the impact, and make connections.

Implementation

RE at Bickerton is taught using a combination of systematic and thematic units, allowing pupils to study religions in depth while also drawing connections across traditions. We follow the locally agreed syllabus alongside the “Understanding Christianity” framework to ensure coherence and progression from Early Years through to Year 6.

Key features of our implementation include:

  • A minimum of 5% curriculum time dedicated to RE, delivered through weekly lessons and enriched with RE days and cross-curricular links.

  • The “Understanding Christianity” resource to deepen theological literacy through a spiral curriculum of core Christian concepts (e.g. God, Creation, Salvation).

  • Key questions and big ideas guide the planning process, ensuring a broad and balanced study of Christianity and other principal religions.

  • High-quality resources, texts, artefacts, and visits enhance engagement and deepen learning.

  • Staff receive regular RE-specific professional development, supported by the Diocese and local networks.

  • Teaching integrates academic rigour with personal reflection, encouraging enquiry, analysis, interpretation, and empathy.

Impact

The impact of our RE curriculum is monitored and evaluated rigorously to ensure high standards and deep learning. This is achieved through:

  • Clear end-of-phase outcomes aligned with the agreed syllabus and “Understanding Christianity” objectives.

  • Ongoing formative assessment and pupil voice to monitor understanding and attitudes.

  • Book looks, lesson observations, and planning scrutiny conducted by the RE Subject Coordinator and SIAMS lead.

  • Evaluation of how well pupils can articulate and reflect on religious and philosophical ideas, use appropriate vocabulary, and show respect for different views.

  • Contribution to SIAMS inspections through evidence of RE’s role in the outworking of our Christian vision.

  • Monitoring by senior leaders and the governing body, particularly Foundation Governors, ensures that RE retains a high profile across the school.

Through our RE provision, pupils leave Bickerton Primary with confident religious literacy, able to make informed decisions and act with compassion and respect in a diverse world.

Files to Download

Bickerton RE Curriculum.docx