R.E

Religious Education (RE) at the Growth Learning Collective

At Newington Green and Rotherfield, Religious Education plays an important role in helping children make sense of the diverse world around them. As an inclusive and nurturing school, we want every pupil to develop respect for others, confidence in their own identity and the curiosity to explore big life questions. Our RE curriculum gives children the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to understand different beliefs, appreciate varied cultures and reflect thoughtfully on their own values.

Our Intent

We believe RE should broaden children’s horizons, encourage empathy and prepare them for life in a diverse society. Through engaging study of world religions and worldviews, pupils learn to:

Appreciate a range of beliefs, practices and traditions
Ask and explore “big questions” about life, meaning and identity
Develop cultural awareness and respectful attitudes
Build confidence through discussion, creativity and reflection

Our Implementation

We follow the Islington-approved NATRE/SACRE syllabus, taught through half-termly units built around an overarching big question. This enquiry-led approach ensures learning is meaningful, engaging and progressive across the school.

Across all year groups, children experience:

Discussion-rich lessons that encourage reasoning, debate and curiosity
Systematic teaching of vocabulary, reinforced through knowledge organisers
Clear progression, with new learning linked to prior units
Creative learning approaches including drama, art, storytelling and reflection
Visits to places of worship, helping pupils connect learning to lived experience
Celebration of major religious festivals such as Diwali, Christmas, Easter and Eid

Children develop three key types of knowledge:

Substantive knowledge: beliefs, practices, stories and key facts
Disciplinary knowledge: how we study religion e.g. questioning, interpreting stories, comparing ideas
Personal knowledge: reflecting on their own experiences and values

Our Impact

Assessment in RE is ongoing, with teachers using talk, questioning and written tasks to gauge understanding throughout each unit. At the end of every half term, children complete a short activity to demonstrate what they have learnt and how their thinking has developed.

By the end of their time at Newington Green, we expect pupils to:

Show respect for a wide range of beliefs and worldviews
Demonstrate empathy, open-mindedness and cultural awareness
Ask thoughtful questions and engage confidently in discussion
Draw on secure knowledge to navigate a diverse world

Our RE curriculum strengthens children’s cultural capital, empathy and understanding and nurtures thoughtful, responsible citizens.

We benefit from a diverse faith school community and encourage pupils to share their own unique and personal religious experiences. This is particularly beneficial when pupils teach their classmates about a particular religious tradition or festival. We believe that by learning about other cultures, beliefs and religions we are able to ensure we develop open minds and hearts within the school community. However, if you wish to withdraw your child from parts of the RE curriculum we ask that you speak with the Headteacher so we are able to fully understand and support your child in this.