Religious Education

At Old Earth Primary School, we believe that it is important for all our pupils to learn from and about religion, so that they can understand the world around them. The aim of Religious Education in our school is to help children to acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of a range of religions represented in Great Britain; to appreciate the way that religious beliefs shape life and behaviour, develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues and enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

It plays an important role, along with all other curriculum areas, particularly PSHE, in promoting social awareness and understanding in our children. We encourage our pupils to ask questions about the world and to reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences.

• RE sits within the PSED strand of the school curriculum running alongside our PSHE provision.
• Our curriculum follows Believing and Belonging: The Local Agreed Syllabus for RE in Calderdale, Kirklees and Leeds, 2019
• EYFS implemented the new curriculum in September 2021 which covers RE through ‘Understanding the World’.
• Visits to key places of worship provide a hands-on opportunity to bring the learning to life. All children in our school will have experienced a range of sacred places such as a church, synagogue, gurdwara, mosque and mandir before they leave school. Each place of worship visited develops better understanding of the religion being studied
• Special Days - Throughout the year, some key religious festivals are marked with special events in school. These opportunities to immerse ourselves in the traditional celebrations through drama, music, stories, food and art are another way to bring the learning alive.
• The Lord’s Prayer is sung during whole school assemblies.
• The whole school carol service is a well-loved event within the school calendar and children from Reception to Year 6 take an active role through readings, traditional music and the retelling of the Christmas Story. The event is always well-attended by the whole school community.
• EYFS and KS1 take responsibility for the annual Nativity performances.
• A Thought Of the Week is shared with all children through class assemblies and collective worship sessions. The themes incorporate a diverse range of key religious teachings e.g. Guru Nanak’s Birthday.
• Mrs Lynn Lord, a representative from All Saint’s Church in Elland, makes regular visits to our school to lead assemblies. She also visits the Year 6 chldren as they prepare to move on to their different secondary schools.
A range of resources and artefacts are available to support the teaching of each religion.