Intent
At Whittingham Church of England Primary School, our vision is that, hand in hand, we will become kind, collaborative and courageous citizens of our community and the wider world. Inspired by the story of The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37), Religious Education and Collective Worship play a central role in enabling our children to live out our Christian vision.
We recognise the importance of Christianity as the foundation of our school's distinctively Christian character, while ensuring that children develop a respectful understanding of a range of world faiths and worldviews. Through high-quality Religious Education and meaningful Collective Worship, children are encouraged to ask deep questions, think critically, reflect spiritually and develop as compassionate, respectful and informed members of society.
Our curriculum is carefully sequenced to ensure that children progressively build substantive knowledge, disciplinary understanding and rich religious vocabulary. It provides opportunities for children to make connections between belief and practice, explore big theological ideas and reflect on how faith can influence individuals, communities and the wider world.
Implementation
Religious Education is taught through a carefully planned curriculum which meets the expectations of the Northumberland Agreed Syllabus and incorporates the Understanding Christianity resource.
Across both Religious Education and Collective Worship we will:
- provide a well-sequenced curriculum where new learning builds securely upon prior knowledge and understanding;
- revisit key concepts, vocabulary and theological ideas to strengthen long-term memory;
- explicitly teach and model ambitious subject-specific vocabulary;
- encourage children to ask and answer challenging questions, discuss different viewpoints and think critically with respect and curiosity;
- provide regular opportunities for reflection, spirituality and personal response through the 'In, Out and Beyond' approach;
- make meaningful links between Religious Education, Collective Worship, our Christian vision and everyday life;
- ensure learning is inclusive, engaging and accessible for every child, enabling all pupils, including those with SEND, to flourish;
- use Collective Worship to deepen children's understanding of Christian values, biblical teaching and our vision, whilst providing opportunities for pupil leadership, prayer, reflection and community involvement.
Impact
Through Religious Education and Collective Worship, children will develop a secure understanding of Christianity alongside knowledge and appreciation of other faiths and worldviews. They will increasingly recognise both similarities and differences, enabling them to become respectful, informed and active citizens within their local community and the wider world.
Children will demonstrate:
- growing theological understanding and religious literacy;
- confidence in using ambitious subject-specific vocabulary;
- the ability to explain, compare, question and evaluate beliefs and practices;
- increasing spiritual awareness and opportunities to reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences;
- an understanding of how our Christian vision inspires kindness, collaboration and courage in everyday life;
- respect, empathy and appreciation for diversity within modern Britain and the global community.
Subject vocabulary and key concepts will be displayed and revisited regularly to support learning and encourage independence.
The impact of Religious Education and Collective Worship will be evaluated through:
- ongoing formative assessment and high-quality questioning;
- pupil discussion and pupil voice;
- children's written and practical outcomes;
- floor books, reflection journals and evidence from Collective Worship;
- book scrutiny and curriculum monitoring;
- summative assessment against agreed progression expectations.
This ensures that all children make strong progress in knowledge, understanding and personal development, enabling them to flourish academically, spiritually, morally, socially and culturally as kind, collaborative and courageous citizens of their community and the wider world.