What is our aim for our RE learners?

The school’s intention is to promote the spiritual, moral, cultural and intellectual development of children.  We enable children to develop knowledge not only of Christianity but also of other world religions, especially those that are the main faiths of children within our school and within the area of Lincolnshire.  Children reflect on what it means to have a faith (or none) and to develop their own spiritual knowledge and understanding.  This is achieved by encouraging children to explore and respond to these aspects of religion and draw upon their own experiences.

How is RE taught at Rauceby?

Religious Education will be taught explicitly each week. It will follow the locally agreed syllabus for Lincolnshire using Understanding Christianity to deliver the Christianity units. Three other main world religions will be taught spirally, allowing children to build upon their knowledge from previous years. Opportunities to explore to explore other religions and world views such as Judaism, Atheism and Humanism are also provided as additional units throughout both key stages. Teaching and Learning will be based on the key concepts outlined in the Lincolnshire agreed syllabus:

Living – The ways in which people practise their beliefs.

Believing - Where beliefs come from, how they have changed over time, how they are applied differently in different contexts and how they relate to each other.

Thinking- Finding out how and whether things make sense, questioning, debating and considering questions of morality and ethics.

Units of work are sequenced to build on prior knowledge and learning from previous units and previous year groups. For each unit, a pre and post mind map is used to track progression of understanding. Quizzes and knowledge organiser activities can also be used to support AFL. Progress is assessed more formally at the end of each phase based on work completed and teacher assessment of knowledge.

Opportunities for cross curricular learning will be sought. For example – using religious texts in Literacy or guided reading, links to Music, Art Geography and Science where possible.

Visitors from different faiths are welcomed into school to share information and promote cultural awareness and understanding and opportunities to visit places of worship, such as visits to the Sleaford Islamic Centre and Lincoln Cathedral, are planned into the curriculum.

What do we want our children to achieve?

Religious Literacy is developed through a broad and balanced RE curriculum. Pupils are confident talking about beliefs and can hold informed and balanced conversations about religions and beliefs in a respectful way. The knowledge and understanding gained through a broad, challenging RE curriculum ensure that pupils move forward with a wider cultural awareness and a sense of being part of a diverse, global community.

What is a Reserved Teacher?
Section 58 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 requires the appointment in
Voluntary controlled (VC) schools of teachers who are able to provide religious education in accordance with the requirements of the Trust Deed of the school or in accordance with the tenets of the relevant religion or denomination.

Where the number of teachers at a foundation or voluntary-controlled school with a religious character is more than two, the teachers must include persons who are selected for their fitness and competence to teach religious education in accordance with the school’s trust deed or with the tenets of the school’s religion and are specifically appointed to do so.

These teachers are called Reserved Teachers.

What is denominational religious education?
There is no definition in the Act of denominational religious education but in practice it means any religious education provided in accordance with the requirements of the Trust Deed of the school and that is not the Locally Agreed Syllabus. Reserved Teachers may of course teach the Agreed Syllabus but that is not the purpose of their status.

Why is the provision of denominational religious education required?
Because parents have the right to request it, the norm in VC Church of England schools is that RE is provided according to the Locally Agreed Syllabus. Reserved Teachers are not needed for this. However, parents may request denominational religious education and the governing body must make it available. Reserved Teachers are appointed in order that suitable persons are available should parents request this provision.

At Rauceby, our Reserved Teachers are Mrs Julia Waites (Headteacher) and Mrs Laura Lambley (RE Leader).