Religious Education

Religious Education at Framework Federation:

We have no affiliation to any particular religious denomination although we have strong links with our local churches.  Religious Education (RE) is taught in accordance with Derbyshire Education Authority's agreed syllabus.  This syllabus is based on the Christian faith while also learning about other principal religions.

Intent

Throughout the family of the Framework Federation schools, ‘RE explores big questions about life, in order to find out what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can make sense of religion and worldviews, and reflect on their own ideas and ways of living.’

At each of our schools, Religious Education helps pupils become religiously literate, respectful and reflective young people. By following the Derbyshire & Derby City Agreed Syllabus (2025–2030), we aim for pupils to:

· Understand a wide range of religious and non-religious worldviews

· Explore how beliefs shape lives, values and communities

· Think deeply, ask meaningful questions and reflect on their own ideas

· Develop respect, empathy and cultural awareness

· Engage confidently with the three disciplinary lenses: Believing, Expressing and Living

Our goal is for pupils to leave us ready to participate thoughtfully in a diverse and ever-changing world.

Implementation

R.E. is taught through a well-sequenced curriculum that builds knowledge and understanding year by year through our 2-year cycle. At each of the Framework Federation schools, we:

· Teach Christianity every year, alongside other major world religions and include non-religions, such as Humanism

· Use an enquiry-based approach: Engage, Enquire, Explore, Evaluate, Express throughout the Derbyshire agreed syllabus units.

· Regular teaching of Religious Education

(Foundation stage – 50 mins taught through continuous provision,

KS1 and KS2- one hour per week, or a series of RE days or weeks amounting to 45+ hours of RE)

· Allow pupils to focus on the key characteristics and concepts through an in-depth study of each of the major religions, to deepen core knowledge and understanding.

· To plan for and deliver engaging and memorable lessons to raise the profile of religious understanding.

· Provide high-quality resources, artefacts, texts and digital media

· Provide high quality teaching to all children, including SEND and other vulnerable/high priority groups and through a range of teaching strategies and work outcomes providing support where needed

· Samples of work achieved by pupils, are recorded in class ‘Floor books’ to document the learning journey throughout each of the Derbyshire Agreed Syllabus units, along with other religious learning tasks, such as, assemblies, church services and places of worship /Derby Multi-Faith Centre

· Offer visits to places of worship and welcome visitors from faith communities. For example: Church services, Mast assemblies, visits to the multi-faith centre

· Build vocabulary, discussion skills and critical thinking.

· Assess learning regularly to ensure progress across the three strands (Believing, Expressing and Living) though learning tasks.

Our teaching reflects the structure and expectations of the 2025–2030 Derbyshire Agreed Syllabus, the ethos of the Framework Federation and British Values.

Impact

By the end of their time with us, pupils:

· Have secure knowledge of key beliefs, practices and worldviews

· Can explain how beliefs influence individuals and communities

· Make thoughtful connections between religious ideas and wider life questions of themselves and others.

· Show respect, tolerance, curiosity and openness towards others – making links to British Values and the school ethos, as well as other areas of the curriculum.

· Use subject-specific vocabulary correctly and confidently

· Demonstrate clear progression and reflection in their work

· Are able to demonstrate through assessment tasks their substantive knowledge of key concepts and vocabulary of the areas of enquiry they have studied.

Pupil voice, work samples, assessment tasks and classroom dialogue all show that pupils leave our school confident, reflective and ready to engage with the diverse world around them, within and beyond the familiarity of the area in which they live.

As statutory guidance states, Parents have the retain the right to withdraw their children from Religious education and other religious activities (School Standards and Framework Act 1998 S71 (3)). This will be the parents’ responsibility. However, it is good practice to talk to parents to ensure that they understand the aims and value of RE before honouring this right.

If you have any questions, or wish to discuss anything R.E related, please make contact through the relevant school office to contact a member of the Framework Federation R.E team, or contact Mrs Batchford or Mrs Holloway directly.

Assemblies incorporate and act of worship, prayers, hymns and incorporate religion, moral, multi-culture, spiritual and British Values.  We have a special celebration assembly when each class teacher nominates their 'Stars of the Week' and we celebrate our achievements.