Religious Education

Religious Education Curriculum Intent

At Weydon School, the Religious Education curriculum is designed to foster understanding, tolerance, and critical thinking in an increasingly diverse and globalised society. Our intent is to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and reflective capacity to explore life’s big questions, develop religious literacy and respect the beliefs and values of others.

Purpose and Vision

We believe that Religious Education plays a vital role in shaping responsible, compassionate and informed citizens. Our curriculum encourages students to engage with a range of religious and non-religious worldviews thereby promoting mutual understanding and respect. RE at Weydon School is not about promoting any particular belief, but about enabling students to make sense of religion and belief in the modern world.

Aims

Our curriculum aims to:

• Equip students with secure knowledge of the beliefs, practices and ethical teachings of major world religions and non-religious worldviews
• Encourage students to reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences in light of what they learn
• Develop analytical and evaluative skills through the exploration of philosophical, ethical and theological questions
• Promote understanding of how religion influences individuals, communities and cultures in the UK and around the world
• Challenge stereotypes, promote inclusion and combat prejudice and discrimination

Curriculum Design

Our RE curriculum is:

• Ambitious and inclusive ensuring all students, regardless of background or belief, can access and succeed. This inclusivity  means all young people can see themselves represented and better understand others’ perspectives
• Spiral in structure, revisiting key concepts such as belief, authority, morality and identity across key stages to deepen understanding
• Rooted in academic rigour, reflecting the requirements of the locally agreed syllabus and preparing students for further study at GCSE and A-Level
• Enriched with experiences, including visits to places of worship, guest speakers and opportunities for debate and discussion

Impact

By the end of their RE journey at Weydon School, students will:

• Be religiously literate, able to articulate their own views and understand those of others with clarity and respect
• Be prepared for life in modern Britain, upholding values of democracy, respect and individual liberty
• Have developed a strong foundation in critical thinking, ethical reasoning and cultural awareness that will benefit them in all areas of life and learning

Under section 71(1) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, parents and carers in England and Wales have a statutory right to withdraw their children wholly or partly from Religious Education (RE / RS) and collective worship.
If you would like to withdraw your child please contact Vice Principal – Curriculum: Ms S. Gilbert