Religious Education
Intent
At Newark Hill Academy, we use Kapow Primary’s Religion & Worldviews scheme of work to support our Religious Education planning and teaching, ensuring that high quality Religion & Worldviews lessons are delivered across the school from Yr1 to Year 6. EYFS follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.
Kapow’s curriculum is designed to develop thoughtful, reflective learners who approach religion and worldviews with curiosity, open-mindedness, and respect. It is relevant to children’s lives, preparing them for life in modern Britain by encouraging them to explore, question, and engage with a diverse range of beliefs and practices. Through this curriculum, pupils develop a secure understanding of key concepts, make meaningful connections, and learn to respond thoughtfully to challenging questions. They are encouraged to respect and appreciate views different from their own, while also reflecting on their personal ideas, responses, and worldviews.
We aim to develop positive attitudes of respect towards other people who hold views and beliefs different from their own, living in a society of diverse religions. Our pupils will also develop their own beliefs and values. We do not convert or steer pupils towards a religious’ belief. They will also be aware that some people have no attachment to religious beliefs and follow secular philosophies which are equally acceptable.
Implementation
Learning is structured progressively so that pupils build conceptual knowledge year on year. By studying religions and worldviews locally, nationally, and globally, pupils learn to make links and recognise connections across traditions. They develop disciplinary skills such as enquiry, interpretation, and evaluation, while also reflecting on their own positionality in relation to the content studied.
Through revisiting ‘big questions’ and drawing on prior learning, pupils deepen their understanding of how religion and worldviews are lived in everyday life and how they influence wider society. They also have regular opportunities to reflect on and articulate their personal worldview.
Kapow’s scheme ensures that our teaching reflects government guidance: that Religious Education in Great Britain should, in the main, reflect Christianity while also taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in the country. It also fulfils the aims of both the Curriculum Framework for Religious Education in England and the Locally Agreed RE Syllabus (SACRE) for Peterborough.
At Newark Hill Academy, RE is taught weekly and enriched through meaningful experiences, including visits to local places of worship and opportunities to engage with speakers from a range of faiths and worldviews in our community.
We make great links within our community as we are fortunate enough to plan visits to St Mary’s Church and work alongside Reverend Michael to enable our pupils to have the first-hand experience of looking at the physical features of a church and ask questions to pique their curiosity. They can engage in conversations which enables them to answer their arising questions about how Christians practice their faith. Alongside this, we, pupils and parents traditionally find visits from Reverend Michael to host our Harvest Assembly immensely pleasurable as we are enlightened by his vast knowledge and purpose of Harvest.
We at NHA, also promote and celebrate other religious festivals within our community. We have a diverse range of pupils from different religious backgrounds and faiths. Therefore, it is important that we provide a range of opportunities for our pupils to experience celebrations such as Diwali, Christmas, Chinese New Year and Eid. Our pupils thrive from these experiences as they can make connections and links to their faiths and respect one another.
Impact
Pupils will have a secure knowledge of the people, stories and traditions that influence beliefs and values practices and ways of life, forms of expressing meaning, identity, diversity and belonging, meaning purpose and truth, values and commitment. They will achieve this through asking and exploring a range of answers to questions about life, individuals and society.
By the end of the academic year, each year group will be assessed to measure pupil working towards, at age related or working above age-related referring to the Kapow scheme. In order to make this judgement, teachers will track progression in learning on a termly basis to monitor pupil achievements and to address any gaps.
Click below to find out more on the Planning and Progression of Skills
Religious Education Curriculum Overview
Our RE Coordinator is Mrs Rebekkah Sackey- Mensah
Parental Right to Withdraw from Religious Education (RE)
We respect the rights of parents and carers regarding their child’s education. Under current legislation, parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of Religious Education (RE) lessons. This includes activities related to Religious Education that do not form part of the statutory National Curriculum.
If you wish to exercise this right, we ask that you inform the school in writing, detailing whether you are withdrawing your child from all or specific parts of the RE curriculum. We are happy to discuss any concerns you may have and provide further information to help you make an informed decision.