Religious Education

Religion and beliefs inform our values and are reflected in what we say and how we behave. Religious Education (RE) is an important subject in itself, developing an individual’s knowledge and understanding of the religions and beliefs which form part of contemporary society.

Religious education provokes challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong, and what it means to be human. It can develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity, of other principal religions, other religious traditions and worldviews that offer answers to questions such as these.

RE also contributes to pupils’ personal development and well-being and to community cohesion by promoting mutual respect and tolerance in a diverse society. RE can also make important contributions to other parts of the school curriculum such as citizenship, personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE education), the humanities, education for sustainable development and others. It offers opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development, deepening the understanding of the significance of religion in the lives of others – individually, communally and cross-culturally.

Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2010

At Horspath Church of England Primary School, RE plays an important role in expressing the school's Christian vision and values. The RE curriculum complements and supports the vision, Let Your Light Shine, its values of courage, justice, kindness and responsibility, and also acts of collective worship.  The knowledge, understanding and skills acquired help to consolidate, develop and embed vision and values in the life of the school, and promote respectful understanding of people of all faiths and none. RE has the same status as any other subject and contributes to the overall personal development of all our pupils, whatever their backgrounds and traditions. 

RE is not part of the National Curriculum but must be taught in schools by law. At Horspath Primary School, RE is taught in accordance with the Oxfordshire Agreed Syllabus, which is devised by Oxfordshire SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education).  It also reflects the requirements of the Statement of Entitlement for Religious Education published by the Education Office of the Church of England (2019). 

RE plays a central role in the school's curriculum with the aim of enabling pupils to participate fully in our multi-religious and multi-secular world. It aims to enable young people to hold informed and balanced conversations about worldviews, religion and beliefs. RE lessons provide a safe environment where pupils can explore their own ideas and learn to evaluate the opinions of others. Whilst a greater emphasis is placed upon the Christian faith in RE in church schools, it is important that children have the opportunity to encounter and reflect on the diversity of other faiths, religions, beliefs and traditions.