RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT HOPE BROOK

As a Church of England School, Religious Education is an central part of our learning at Hope Brook. We study Religious Education (RE) to foster understanding, tolerance, and critical thinking about diverse worldviews, beliefs, and cultures, promoting respect and empathy in a diverse society, and enabling pupils to engage in reasoned debate and understand the role of religion and belief in the modern world. RE underpins our vision that we will help pupils grow into people who bring hope to the world. 

Here is a more detailed explanation of why studying RE is important to us at Hope Brook:

• Understanding Diverse Perspectives: RE exposes pupils to a wide range of religious and non-religious beliefs, practices, and traditions, helping them to appreciate different perspectives and cultures.

• Promoting Tolerance and Respect: By learning about different religions and belief systems, pupils can develop a greater understanding and respect for others, fostering a more inclusive and tolerant society.

• Developing Critical Thinking Skills: RE encourages pupils to analyse, evaluate, and critically examine religious texts, beliefs, and practices, promoting critical thinking and reasoned argumentation.

• Exploring Moral and Ethical Issues: RE provides a platform for exploring complex moral and ethical issues, such as justice, truth, and the concept of right and wrong, helping pupils develop their own values and beliefs.

• Understanding the Role of Religion in Society: RE helps pupils understand the historical, social, and cultural significance of religion, as well as its influence on various aspects of life, including politics, art, and literature.

• Fostering Empathy and Compassion: By learning about the experiences and perspectives of people from different religious backgrounds, pupils can develop empathy and compassion for others, promoting a more caring and understanding world.

• Preparing for a Diverse World: In an increasingly diverse and interconnected world, RE equips pupils with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate a world of different religions and beliefs, promoting peaceful coexistence and understanding. 

We use the Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. This provides the children with creative and engaging ways to explore the three core elements:

• Make sense of a range of religious and non-religious beliefs.
• Understand the impact of these beliefs.
• Make connections between these beliefs and the children’s own views and experiences.

To support our Christianity units we use the Understanding Christianity document.

RE is legally required for all pupils. RE is a core subject of the curriculum for all pupils. It is an entitlement for all pupils through their schooling, from Reception up to and including Year Six. It will be given at least 5% of the curriculum time. This equates to:

• EYFS: 36 hours of RE
• KS1: 36 hours of RE
• KS2: 45 hours of RE

Parents have a right to withdraw pupils from RE. Please see the document below for further details.