Religious Education

The Aims of Religious Education (RE)

At Leigh St Mary’s CE Primary School, Religious Education is taught in line with the Manchester Diocese RE Syllabus, which provides a rich and balanced framework for learning. The purpose of RE is to help children explore what people believe and to understand how these beliefs shape the way people live. Through this, pupils develop the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage thoughtfully with important questions about religion, belief and meaning in their own lives and in the wider world.

The syllabus sets out a clear threefold aim, ensuring that all pupils develop a deep and well-rounded understanding of religion and worldviews. Firstly, children are supported to make sense of a range of religious and non-religious beliefs. This means they learn to identify, describe and explain key beliefs and concepts, using appropriate vocabulary. As they progress, they begin to understand that beliefs can be interpreted in different ways by individuals and communities. They also explore important sources of authority, such as sacred texts, teachings, traditions and religious leaders, and develop the skills needed to interpret these thoughtfully and with increasing confidence.

Alongside this, children develop an understanding of the impact and significance of beliefs on people’s lives. They learn how and why people express their beliefs in different ways, for example through worship, festivals and everyday actions. Pupils explore how beliefs influence choices, behaviours and ways of living, both within local communities and across the wider world. This helps them to recognise and appreciate the diversity that exists within and between different faiths and worldviews, and to understand why these beliefs are important to the people who hold them.

A key part of RE at Leigh St Mary’s is helping children to make connections between what they learn and their own lives. Pupils are encouraged to reflect on and evaluate the ideas they study, to ask thoughtful questions and to consider different viewpoints. They learn to give reasons for their opinions and to engage respectfully with ideas that may challenge their own thinking. Over time, children become more confident in expressing their own beliefs, values and reflections, making meaningful links between their learning in RE and their personal understanding of the world.

The Manchester Diocese syllabus is carefully designed to develop children’s religious literacy, enabling them to talk about religion and belief with understanding and sensitivity. Teaching is structured through both systematic and thematic approaches. This means that children study individual religions in depth, while also exploring broader questions that allow them to compare beliefs and practices across different traditions. This balance ensures that pupils gain both secure knowledge and the ability to think critically and make connections.

In every RE lesson, three key elements are woven together: making sense of beliefs, understanding the impact and making connections. This integrated approach allows children to build knowledge, explore how beliefs are lived out in practice, and reflect on their own ideas. Lessons encourage curiosity, discussion and enquiry, drawing on different ways of thinking such as theology, philosophy, ethics and social understanding.

Through this approach, RE at Leigh St Mary’s supports children in developing a strong understanding of Christianity alongside other religions and worldviews. It helps them to grow in respect and appreciation for others, to engage with challenging questions about life and meaning, and to develop their own sense of identity and values. Ultimately, our RE curriculum prepares pupils to live well together in a diverse and changing world.

Religious Education (RE) Curriculum

The curriculum ensures that children develop a strong understanding of Christianity, alongside learning about other major world religions and non-religious worldviews. Christianity remains the main focus, reflecting our Church school foundation, while also ensuring children gain a broad and balanced understanding of the diverse society in which we live.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage (Reception), children begin their RE journey by exploring their own experiences and the world around them. They learn about special people, places, books and times, including key Christian celebrations such as Christmas and Easter. Through stories, play and discussion, children start to develop an understanding of belonging, community and what it means to be special and unique. They are also introduced, in an age-appropriate way, to a range of faiths and worldviews.

During Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2), children build on these early experiences by learning about Christianity, Judaism and Islam. They explore key beliefs, stories and celebrations, and begin to understand how faith influences the way people live. Children ask and answer questions about belonging, God, and what it means to be part of a faith community. Learning focuses on helping pupils recognise similarities and differences, while developing respect and curiosity about others.

In Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4), children deepen their knowledge by studying Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism. They begin to explore beliefs in more detail and consider how these beliefs are expressed through worship, festivals and everyday life. Pupils are encouraged to make links between beliefs and actions, and to think more carefully about the meaning behind religious practices. They also begin to engage with more complex questions, comparing ideas across different religions and worldviews.

In Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 and 6), children develop a more sophisticated understanding of religion and belief. They continue to study Christianity alongside Islam, Hinduism and Judaism, while also exploring non-religious worldviews such as Humanism. Pupils consider deeper philosophical and ethical questions, such as why people believe in God, how beliefs influence moral choices, and how people respond to challenges in life. They are encouraged to think critically, make connections between different ideas, and reflect on their own beliefs and values.

Across all year groups, the curriculum is organised around key questions which encourage enquiry and discussion. Children revisit important concepts throughout their time in school, allowing their understanding to grow in depth and complexity. By the end of Year 6, pupils are equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to understand different beliefs, respect diversity and reflect thoughtfully on their own views.