Religious Education
A Statement of Entitlement
The following guidance has been adapted from 'A Statement of Entitlement' issued to all Church of England Schools.
Religious education at St Margaret's Lee should enable every child to flourish and to live life in all its fullness. (John 10:10). It will help educate for dignity and respect encouraging all to live well together.
Such an approach is offered through a commitment to generous hospitality, being true to our underpinning faith, but with a deep respect for the integrity of other religious traditions (and worldviews) and for the religious freedom of each person.
A high-quality sequential religious education (RE) programme is essential to meet the statutory requirement for all state funded schools to teach a full curriculum that prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in modern Britain. Central to religious education in Church schools is the study of Christianity as a living and diverse faith, focused on the teaching of Jesus and the Church. There is a clear expectation that as inclusive communities, church schools provide sequenced learning about a range of religions and worldviews fostering respect for others. In voluntary aided schools (such as St Margaret's Lee), RE must be taught in accordance with the trust deed: this document will help schools interpret that legal requirement.
The effectiveness of denominational education in Church schools is evaluated during the statutory inspection of Anglican and Methodist schools (SIAMS) section 48 inspection. That subsequent judgement will reflect the expectations set out in this document. The SIAMS evaluation schedule assesses the way RE contributes to the outworking of church school’s Christian vision. It highlights the responsibility of Church school leaders to ensure that pupils flourish academically through the provision of high-quality RE. In addition, in voluntary aided schools, a judgement on standards in teaching and learning in RE is included in the SIAMS report.
The Entitlement: provision, profile and priority
In our Church school the pupils and their families can expect an RE curriculum that enables pupils to acquire a rich, deep knowledge and understanding of Christian belief and practice, this should include the ways in which it is unique and diverse.
Parents can expect the use of high-quality resources.
Pupils can expect that teaching and learning in Church schools will use an approach that engages with biblical text and theological ideas.
Pupils can expect that a Church school RE curriculum will engage and challenge them through an exploration of core concepts and questions. They can expect Church schools to provide meaningful and informed dialogue with a range of religions and worldviews.
There should be opportunities for them to understand the role of foundational texts, beliefs, rituals, and practices and how they help form identity in a range of religions and worldviews.
Pupils should explore how these may change in different times, places and cultures. RE will go beyond a sociological study of religious phenomena and will introduce pupils to a range of relevant disciplines including theology, philosophy and the human and social sciences.
In our Church school progress in RE should be significant and attainment high enabling pupils to develop confident religious literacy. Parents and pupils can expect that in a Church school RE will have a high profile within the curriculum and will be a priority for senior leaders. The RE curriculum is intrinsic to the outworking of a Church school’s Christian vision in enabling all pupils to flourish.
In addition, the RE curriculum will contribute to British values and spiritual moral social and cultural development Learning activities must provide fully for the needs of all pupils. Pupils should develop a wide range of skills including enquiry, analysis, interpretation, evaluation and reflection. Pupils should have a safe space to explore their own religious, spiritual and/or philosophical ways of seeing, living and thinking, believing and belonging. They should have opportunities to engage in meaningful and informed dialogue with those of all religions and worldviews.
Curriculum statement: challenging, accurate and diverse
In our Church school religious education must be considered an academic subject. All pupils are entitled to religious education that is delivered in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner. Pupils are entitled to a balanced RE curriculum which enquires into religions and worldviews through theology, philosophy and the human and the social sciences. It should be a coherent curriculum that enables progress through ordered and sequential learning developing both knowledge and skills. There should be a clear curriculum vision and intent, a structure for implementation and provision and a process for evaluating impact.
Aims and objectives
• To know about and understand Christianity as a diverse global living faith through the exploration of core beliefs using an approach that critically engages with biblical text.
• To gain knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and worldviews appreciating diversity, continuity and change within the religions and worldviews being studied.
• To engage with challenging questions of meaning and purpose raised by human existence and experience.
• To recognise the concept of religion and its continuing influence on Britain’s cultural heritage and in the lives of individuals and societies in different times, cultures and places.
• To explore their own religious, spiritual and philosophical ways living, believing and thinking.
Curriculum balance and time: sufficient, appropriate and balanced
Reflecting the school’s trust deed parents and pupils are entitled to expect that in Church schools Christianity should be the majority religion studied in each year group and should be at least 50% of curriculum time. Sufficient dedicated curriculum time, meeting explicitly RE objectives, however organised, should be committed to the delivery of RE. This should aim to be close to 10% but must be no less than 5% in key stages 1-2.
Developing staff expertise and knowledge: confidence specialism professionalism
Pupils in Church schools are entitled to be taught by teachers who have a secure subject knowledge and are confident in helping them navigate and challenge cultural and religious stereotypes, prejudice and extremism.
It should be a priority in Church schools to build up staff expertise in RE specifically, but not exclusively, working towards:
• at least one member of staff having RE qualifications or receiving specialist training.
• all staff teaching RE having access to subject specific professional development.
• all staff teaching RE knowing how to create and maintain classrooms in which academic rigour is balanced with respect for different personal beliefs and identities.
• all teaching staff and governors understanding of the distinctive role and purpose of RE within church schools.
• a governing body which is monitoring standards in RE effectively.
The role of the Southwark Diocesan Boards of Education
To promote, or assist in the promotion of, religious education in schools in the diocese. This should be fulfilled by monitoring the quality of religious education in Church schools through taking note of SIAMS inspection reports and by securing high quality training for all schools throughout the diocese. This will help ensure that the provision for religious education is effective and is able to fulfil the expectations of this statement. Support for effective and excellent RE Teachers in Church schools belong to a wider educational and church community.
They are entitled to expect positive support in providing effective and excellent religious education from:
• a named member of staff responsible for religious education and where that person is the headteacher someone who shadows the role
• their senior management team and their governing body, especially foundation governors or academy equivalents
• their local Diocesan Board of Education, including a school’s adviser with an appropriate religious education background
• the Church of England Education Office
• local clergy and other minsters and Christian communities.
The latest school SIAMS inspection report
Our last inspection was in 2015 and we were graded as outstanding. You can read or download the full report at the foot of the page.
RE Quality Mark
We were delighted to be awarded the RE Quality Mark Gold in 2019 for our RE teaching and learning. A quote from the assessment report:
The school’s RE programme of study carefully blends the best of the old syllabus with the diocesan one. Deep thinking is promoted through excellent use of P4C. As a result, pupils are deeply engaged, make outstanding progress and achieve much higher standards than expected. There is an established culture of RE across the school, expertly managed by a knowledgable and committed subject leader. She ensures that teachers have the skills and knowledge they need and rigorously monitors RE to ensure its consistently high quality. Under her guidance, the school is playing a leading role in supporting RE among neighbouring schools.
Our Curriculum
Our curriculum has been created around key themes and questions. Take a look at what we learn in each year group.
Reception / Pre-school 2020-21
Autumn 1 |
Autumn 2 |
Spring 1 |
Spring 2 |
Summer 1 |
Summer 2 |
Religion: Christianity Judaism Theme: Special people Key Question: What makes people special? |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Christmas Key Question: What is Christmas? |
Religion: Christianity Buddhism Islam Hinduism Sikhism Theme: Story time Key Question: What can we learn from stories? |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Easter Key Question: What makes people special? |
Religion: Christianity Judaism Islam Theme: Special places Key Question: What makes places special |
Religion: Christianity Philosophy 4Children Book: I Want My Hat Back Key Question: Is it Ever Ok to lie? |
Reception / Pre-school 2019-20
Autumn 1 |
Autumn 2 |
Spring 1 |
Spring 2 |
Summer 1 |
Summer 2 |
Religion: Christianity Judaism Theme: Special people Key Question: What makes people special? |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Christmas Key Question: What is Christmas?
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Religion: Christianity Buddhism Islam Hinduism Sikhism Theme: Story time Key Question: What can we learn from stories? |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Easter Key Question: What makes people special?
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Religion: Christianity Judaism Islam Theme: Special places Key Question: What makes places special |
Religion: Christianity P4C Book: Giraffes Can’t Dance Key Question: Is it ok to be different? |
Year 1/2 2020-21
Autumn 1 |
Autumn 2 |
Spring 1 |
Spring 2 |
Summer 1 |
Summer 2 |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Jesus as a friend Key Question: Was it always easy for Jesus to show friendship? |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Christmas Key Question: What gift would I have given to Jesus if he had been born in my town, not in Bethlehem? |
Religion: Judaism Theme: Shabbat Key Question: Is Shabbat important to Jewish children? |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Easter Key Question: Why was Jesus welcomed like a king or celebrity by the crowds on Palm Sunday?
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Religion: Christianity Theme: Creation story Key Question: Does God want Christians to look after the world?
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Religion: Christianity P4C Book: The Story of the Little Mole Key Question: Is it ever ok to seek revenge? |
Year 1/2 2019-20
Autumn 1 |
Autumn 2 |
Spring 1 |
Spring 2 |
Summer 1 |
Summer 2 |
Religion: Christianity Theme: What did Jesus teach? Key Question: Is it possible to be kind to everyone all of the time? |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Christmas Key Question: Why did God give Jesus to the world?
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Religion: Judaism Theme: Passover Key Question: How important is it for Jewish people to do what God asks them to do?
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Religion: Christianity Theme: Easter Key Question: Is it true that Jesus came back to life again?
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Religion: Islam Theme: Prayer at home Key Question: Does praying at regular intervals every day help a Muslim in his/her everyday life?
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Religion: Christianity P4C Book: The Koala Who Could Key question: What is courage and why is it important? |
Year 3/4 2020-21
Autumn 1 |
Autumn 2 |
Spring 1 |
Spring 2 |
Summer 1 |
Summer 2 |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Jesus’ miracles Key Question: Could Jesus really heal people? Were these miracles or is there some other explanation? |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Christmas Key Question: Has Christmas lost its true meaning?
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Religion: Hinduism Theme: Diwali Key Question: Would celebrating Diwali at home and in the community bring a feeling of belonging to a Hindu Child?
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Religion: Christianity Theme: Easter Key Question: What is ‘good’ about Good Friday?
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Religion: Sikhism Theme: Sharing and community Key Question: Do Sikhs think it is important to share?
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Religion: Christianity P4C Book: The Red Tree Key Question: What is hope and why is it important? |
Year 3/4 2019-20
Autumn 1 |
Autumn 2 |
Spring 1 |
Spring 2 |
Summer 1 |
Summer 2 |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Prayer and worship Key Question: Do people need to go to church to show they are Christians? |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Christmas Key Question: What is the most significant part of the nativity story for Christians today?
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Religion: Buddhism Theme: tbc Key Question: tbc
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Religion: Christianity Theme: Easter Key Question: Is forgiveness always possible?
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Religion: Judaism Theme: Beliefs and Practices Key Question: How special is the relationship Jews have with God?
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Religion: Christianity P4C Book: Two Monsters Key Question: Is it ok to disagree? |
Year 5/6 2020-21
Autumn 1 |
Autumn 2 |
Spring 1 |
Spring 2 |
Summer 1 |
Summer 2 |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Prayer and worship Key Question: What is the best way for a Christian to show commitment to God? |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Christmas Key Question: Is the Christmas story true?
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Religion: Sikhism Theme: Prayer and worship Key Question: What is the best way for a Sikh to show commitment to God? |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Easter Key Question: Did God intend Jesus to be crucified? |
Religion: Hinduism Theme: Beliefs and moral values Key Question: Do beliefs in Karma, Samsara and Moksha help Hindus lead good live? |
Religion: Christianity P4C Book: Voices in the Park Key Question: Can we ever understand what people are thinking?
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Year 5/6 2019-20
Autumn 1 |
Autumn 2 |
Spring 1 |
Spring 2 |
Summer 1 |
Summer 2 |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Beliefs and meaning Key Question: Is anything ever eternal? |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Christmas Key Question: How significant is it that Mary was Jesus’ mother? |
Religion: Islam Theme: Beliefs and Practices Key Question: What is the best way for a Muslim to show Commitment to God? |
Religion: Christianity Theme: Easter Key Question: Is Christianity still a strong religion 2000 years after Jesus was on earth?
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Religion: Christianity Buddhism Islam Hinduism Sikhism Judaism Theme: tbc Key Question: tbc |
Religion: Christianity P4C Book: Cicada Key question: Is our path laid out for us? |
Courageous Advocacy
Courageous advocacy is a key part of our mission statement. Its focus is on how, through the outworking of our Christian vision, we encourage and enables pupils to consider and act upon how they can make a difference for the better in their local, national and global communities. It includes charitable giving and other actions such as writing to MPs/local councillors, recycling and conservation, based on and expressing the school’s Christian vision. Courageous advocacy is about how pupils develop positive attitudes to issues of justice and equality, hope and aspiration (for themselves, others and the world).
Our Curriculum in Action
Explore Religious Education across the school by viewing our RE blogs here.