Religious Education
At The Hayes Primary School, Religious Education is a vital part of our broad and balanced curriculum and plays an important role in developing children as thoughtful, respectful and reflective individuals. In line with our school vision and values, RE encourages curiosity about the world, promotes mutual respect and celebrates the rich diversity of beliefs within our school and wider community. Through meaningful enquiry and reflection, children are supported to explore big questions about life, belief and belonging, helping them to develop empathy, critical thinking and a strong sense of identity as they grow into responsible, compassionate citizens.
Intent
At The Hayes Primary School, we follow the Croydon SACRE Religious Education curriculum, which has been thoughtfully developed with contributions from a diverse range of voices. This ensures the curriculum meets statutory requirements while reflecting the rich diversity of our local and global community. RE at The Hayes supports pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and contributes strongly to the promotion of British Values, including mutual respect, tolerance and individual liberty.
Through the study of religious and non-religious worldviews, pupils are encouraged to develop understanding, respect and open-mindedness. They explore beliefs, values and practices in ways that promote meaningful dialogue and personal reflection. By engaging with different perspectives, pupils build empathy and insight, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate life with curiosity, confidence and respect for others.
This curriculum replaces the previous Agreed Syllabus of 2013 (updated in 2018) and places a stronger emphasis on worldviews, including the explicit study of Humanism as a non-religious worldview. The six principal world religions—Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Judaism—are taught across the key stages, alongside Humanism, with opportunities to reflect other beliefs represented within our school community.
Implementation
The RE curriculum is structured around carefully sequenced key enquiry questions, which are revisited across year groups to ensure progression and depth of understanding in relation to faith, belief and values. These encourage children to explore and reflect on religious and non-religious perspectives:
- What does it mean to belong?
- What is important to people?
- What do different people believe about God?
- How is my community special to me?
- Why should we care about the world?
- What do we need on life’s journey?
In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 (KS1), children explore stories, festivals, symbols and practices from a range of traditions, helping them to understand what people believe and how beliefs influence everyday life. In Key Stage 2 (KS2), pupils deepen their learning through increasingly complex enquiry, drawing on theological, philosophical and sociological approaches to explore life’s big questions.
Adaptive teaching is embedded throughout RE lessons to ensure learning is accessible to all children, including those with SEND and disadvantaged learners. A wide range of teaching strategies is used, including discussion, storytelling, debate, creative activities, use of artefacts and visits to places of worship. Where possible, learning is enriched through visitors, assemblies and links with local faith and cultural communities, reflecting the diversity of Croydon.
Impact
By the end of their time at The Hayes Primary School, children will have developed a secure and respectful understanding of a range of religious and non-religious worldviews. They will be able to ask thoughtful questions, engage in respectful discussion and reflect on their own beliefs and values, while recognising and valuing those of others. Children will have an increased self-awareness and are empowered to approach moral and ethical issues with confidence. By the ongoing consideration of worldviews, including Humanism, our curriculum fosters a deep appreciation of diversity.
The RE curriculum has a positive impact on pupils’ personal development, supporting empathy, critical thinking and moral awareness. It helps to reduce prejudice, promote social cohesion and foster a strong sense of belonging within our school community. Children leave The Hayes as open-minded, reflective individuals who are prepared to contribute positively to life in modern Britain and an increasingly interconnected world.