Religious Education
Nobody Stands Nowhere – What are your Worldviews?
Religious Education has evolved over the years and has moved away from what you may remember during your schooling.
Here at Longwell Green, it involves children and young people asking big questions and considering what they believe. There are many different worldviews that pupils are introduced to and encouraged to consider the elements that they admire. This understanding, fosters an attitude of respect and diversity with good religious literacy regardless of what Worldview you may adhere to.
We follow the South Gloucestershire RE syllabus and take part in other wider opportunities which complement the children’s learning.
We are one of few schools to have been awarded the WIRE and WIRE GOLD award due to our enriched curriculum and wider involvement in the community.
We have competed for several years in the NATRE Spirited Arts competition and have taken part in extra learning of religious celebrations such as Easter, Ramadan and Diwali.
Each year group, has invited different religious/non-religious visitors into the classroom to enhance their learning through question time or introduction to a particular unit of study.
We are involved with Inter-Faith week by leading and taking part in a whole-school virtual inter-faith day.
We have connections with our local churches who have supported in different ways and one of those being financially. All of the children have their own personalised bible to use during lessons when referring to the original source.
We have a healthy supply of resources and artefacts which are regularly used in lessons. This also includes a library of books and a class set of Qur’ans.
We understand the importance to grow and develop as teachers so take part in many training sessions and conferences.
We have created a useful assessment tool which supports the children’s basic knowledge and differences between worldviews but also allows them to demonstrate a deeper understanding to their learning.
Collective Worship
The law states that there should be collective workshop held daily in some form and that it should be “wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character”. The structure of the schools timetable and pattern of assemblies meets this need.
The Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education (SACRE) states “Collective Worship should be a valid educational experience” which should include opportunities for children to express themselves through drama, music and meditation in worship thereby enabling them to understand that God is an active participator in their lives.
The schools aim is to provide such a variety of experience through the following approaches:
- teaching in whole school, zone and class groups e.g. assemblies
- linking religious themes to the school’s personal and social education programme
Opting Out Procedure
Should parents not wish their child to participate in this aspect of the curriculum, they should discuss the matter with the Headteacher in order that all the issues relating to “opting out” may be explored e.g. alternative supervision arrangements
Our RE leader is Mrs English.
