Wightwick Hall School is committed to serving its community. It recognises the multi-cultural, multi-faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom. It also understands the vital role it has in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.

Religious Education provides a rich and wide range of experiences inside and outside the classroom. This gives pupils opportunities and the ability to be reflective about their own beliefs, develop concepts and skills that will help them make sense of their own experiences and beliefs and to understand the beliefs and practices of members of faith communities.

British values are embedded within the RE curriculum. Within democracy we encourage pupils to express their opinions and to question within lessons.

Respect and tolerance is reflected through discussions about similarities and differences between people; helping pupils to understand their own culture and introduce them to different cultures and ways of life; through learning activities; through international links with the Buhoma School in Uganda; assemblies; visiting different places of worship and through visiting speakers from different cultures; supporting a range of charities throughout the year.

Intent – What is Wightwick aiming to achieve through it’s curriculum?

Our RE lessons are intended to offer a broad and rich RE curriculum to allow for coverage of the areas prescribed;

to allow for a variety of ways to explore religions, their community and personal development and wellbeing.

The lessons have an intention of providing a high quality, coherent and progressive experience of the subject, with scope for cross-curricular learning. Through each unit, pupils will know about and understand a range of religions and world views.

They will be able to identify, investigate and respond to a variety of issues. SMSC, personal growth and community cohesion are featured and are there to ensure opportunities for children to develop positive attitudes and values and to reflect on and relate their learning in RE to their own experiences.

The intent is to make sure that children understand the relevance of RE in today’s modern world and how it affects our lives.

Implementation -How is the RE curriculum delivered?

The curriculum used throughout KS 3 and 4 offers a broad range of study for pupils studying RE.

The schemes of work for KS3 and 4 are taken from the EQUALS curriculum and Staffordshire Agreed Syllabus.

All major religions are covered through topics

Celebrations from different religions will be recognised throughout the year where possible.

Key Stage 3

The focus of teaching RE at KS3 is on the community, through giving pupils opportunities to learn about different religions and also to learn from religion.

Key Stage 3 students are taught in year groups and have 1 hour per week allocated to the subject.

Student progress is reported to parents three times a year.

Progress is recorded and monitored by using the B Squared assessment tool.

Pupils are assessed at the beginning and end of each topic.

Key Stage 4

The focus of teaching RE at KS4 is on the community, through giving pupils opportunities to learn about different religions and also to learn from religion.

Key Stage 4 students are taught in year groups and have 30 minutes per week allocated to the subject.

Pupils in Wightwick House experience looking at different religions, focusing on celebrations

3EF study RE through learning about and experiencing religions, worships and festivals.

6HS study RE through developing an awareness of different celebrations,

This is linked to an ASDAN qualification.

Wightwick Hall offers a wider range of learning opportunities about the world’s religions including deeper understanding of the origin of those religions and their key stories and teachings.

Throughout the Year groups, emphasis on personal growth and community cohesion is evident, allowing for personal development for the children from KS3 to the end of KS4.

Beginning and End of unit assessments are used in order to make sure children have reached the intended outcomes.

Impact- What difference is the curriculum making on the pupils?

The impact of using these lessons as the basis of the RE curriculum will be for pupils to have a better understanding of the religions that make up the UK landscape and how they can learn from and work alongside each other to create community cohesion.

All pupils will be more informed about their position in the world, and the decisions they can make impacting their future.

Pupils that have the ability will be able to talk confidently about their wellbeing, moral and cultural development for the society in which they live.

The RE curriculum will promote inquisitive minds, respect, tolerance and understanding for all those around them including themselves.

The lessons will enable high quality work to be produced and evidenced, showcasing a deep understanding of the main religions of the world, their community and their future.

This evidence will be seen through using the correct vocabulary, explanations and respectful opinions, as well as cross-curricular evidence, for example religious and cultural art work, craft and presentations.