Ribbleton Avenue Methodist Junior School

Impact of actions taken

Use the Lancashire SACRE resources, within lessons and throughout the curriculum, we use questions so that pupils can actively reflect, investigate and make meaning of relationships, the world and God.  We believe our questioning curriculum to be challenging and creative whilst promote self-awareness, respect for all, open mindedness, appreciation and wonder.

We believe that our children are on a journey of faith and discovery during RE lessons. We focus on Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development. We explicitly teach core Christian concepts and make reference to God’s salvation story.  Teaching is creative and learning is engaging, reflecting high expectations and standards from staff.

Teachers plan RE lessons around key ‘Big Questions’ and marking in RE books evidences children’s thinking being challenged to a high level. Their responses show good levels of knowledge as well as deep thinking. Children are beginning to ask their own ‘Big Questions’ and challenging each other We adopt an enquiry- based approach. The children are encouraged to ask and answer questions and to search to understand faith and religion in a purposeful and meaningful way, appropriate to their level of understanding. Teachers challenge through the asking of ‘Big Questions’ to enable independence of thought and ownership of beliefs.

The Bible text is regularly engaged with and teachings about core Christian concepts are made explicit in lessons.  Children learn about significant figures from the Old and New Testaments such as Moses, Ruth, Jonah and David. The incarnation is explored by looking at the life and teachings of Jesus and is compared against the teachings in other religions to make comparisons and demonstrate examples of what it is to be human and to help others.  Our R.E. curriculum supports children to understand the Methodist principle to 'Go not where you are needed, but where you are needed most'. Children learn from people in the Bible and recognise that God has a will for people’s lives and the importance of choosing the right path. Pupils are enthusiastic about RE and are able to relate teaching about Christianity to their own faith. The impact of RE is positive in the way the children respect and treat each other.

We recognise our children as individuals and educate them according to their rights in law. We provide opportunities for them to fulfil their potential and in accordance with the Methodist beliefs that ‘All Can Be Saved’ with the ‘Assurance of God’s Love’.

We believe that excellent RE teaching can be the key to enabling every child to flourish. Our syllabus is predominantly Christian but we also study elements of Judaism, Hinduism and Islam throughout Key Stage 2. We choose to celebrate religions from around the world as part of our tolerance teachings; our school community is made up of a variety of different religions which we embrace. In order to fully explore Christianity as a living worldwide faith we welcome visitors from Christian organisations into school.

There are opportunities for collaboration and sharing of resources, through staff training, to plan creatively e.g. R.E Staff meeting 21^st November 2019.  Children have respect for other cultures and the religions and this is explored through our Inter Faith Week. They know more about key practices of these religions and can express the importance of respecting the beliefs of others. (see RE books, wall displays)  The children know more about how Christianity is represented around the world. They can explain the significance of the cross as a symbol of Global Christianity. Children have an understanding of Church of England traditions and British Values as promoted within our country e.g. Mother’s Day and Easter Celebrations.  

As a school we celebrate significant events to reflect the culture and British values of our country. For example, in May 2018 we staged a whole school royal wedding party.

As a Methodist school, we collectively promote the inclusive Christian belief that we are made in the image of God and loved unconditionally by him and that everyone is respected. We seek to ensure that everyone knows they are important and valuable to God. RE lessons regularly include discussion and reflection times which are also replicated in the classroom worship spaces which offer a reflective space for our children. Children are encouraged to voice thoughts and opinions and to ask and try to answer the questions of others. Our school council acts as a superb way for our children to have a voice and this proactive group have significantly impacted across the school including which charities to support and ways in which we can raise money e.g. cake sales for Fair Share.  Pupils feel safe in school to share their own views and know these will be respected and valued.

The children are challenged through written feedback in RE books to think theologically and deeply. Responses in RE books evidence this. Children are beginning to ask their own ‘Big Questions’ and challenging each other during RE Lessons.

The RE leads attend termly cluster meetings and access relevant training to support with the development of R.E. throughout school.   The RE Leads use this data to impact on the quality of R.E. provision throughout school and this information is reported to the local authority and Methodist trust, annually. Data is analysed termly to ensure that standards are maintained and are in line with local and national averages.