Religious Education & World Views

Religious Education at Lipson Vale Primary School follows the Plymouth Agreed Syllabus for RE, which was introduced in 2019. As set out in the syllabus, the principal aim of RE is to explore what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion and belief, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living.

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The Plymouth Agreed Syllabus for RE states the importance and values of religious education for all pupils and actively encourages and allows for pupils to explore existing world views, whilst all the time, developing their own. This is achieved through the delivery of a high-quality curriculum, which is accessible to all children at Lipson Vale, in an inspiring and engaging way. 

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The syllabus provides a threefold aim, which elaborates the main aim of the RE current curriculum. In each unit of work, children are guided through the cycle of 1) making sense of a range of religious and non-religious beliefs; 2) understanding the impact and significance of religious and non-religious beliefs; 3) making connections between religious and non-religious beliefs, concepts, practices, and ideas studied. 

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Approaches to teaching and learning vary, according to the unit of work and the age of the children, and progression is evident across all year groups. Skills developed at each stage in the cycle include identifying, describing, explaining, recognising, analysing, examining, reflecting, evaluating, enquiring, questioning, responding, and challenging. These skills enable the children to continue to learn about religion and world views, as well as learn from religion, in accordance with the previous scheme of learning for RE. Children recognise the development of these skills and can talk confidently about how their knowledge and understanding has grown and developed as they move through the year groups. Children in Year 6 for example enjoy the opportunity to make links with their prior learning and are empowered by the opportunity to raise questions, take part in discussions and challenge thinking. 

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RE is taught in all year groups as a statutory part of the Lipson Vale curriculum. A whole school long term overview ensures that all units are taught within the recommended year group to ensure that knowledge and skills are progressive. As well as teaching about Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism from an enquiry (key question) point of view, the Plymouth syllabus provides opportunities for the consideration of other religious and non-religious world views, which is an equally important part of teaching and learning RE. 

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In addition to developing knowledge and skills in RE and world views, the Plymouth syllabus provides opportunities for the development of attitudes, such as respect, open-mindedness, care and concern, curiosity, and wonder, which are important and promoted through all areas of school life. 
 

Please see the Long Term Planning Overview for more detail of coverage across the school.