"We have far more in common with each other than that which divides us.”

Jo Cox

National Curriculum

The National Curriculum states the legal requirement that: “Every state-funded school must offer a curriculum which is balanced and broadly based, and which:

• Promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society, and:

• Prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.”

Mission statement

At Fairfield Road, religious education is taught to promote the spiritual, moral, and cultural development of all pupils. We believe the modern world needs young people who are sufficiently confident in their own beliefs and values that they can respect the religious cultural differences of others and can contribute to cohesive and compassionate society.

Our ambition at Fairfield Road is to offer a rich religious education curriculum that allows our children to engage pupils in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religion and worldviews address, so that they can develop the understanding and skills needed to appreciate and appraise varied responses to these questions, as well as develop responses of their own.

The curriculum for RE aims to ensure that all pupils:

1. Know about and understand a range of religious and non-religious worldviews, so that they can:

• describe, explain and analyse beliefs and practices, recognising the diversity which exists within and between communities and amongst individuals

• identify, investigate and respond to questions posed, and responses offered, by some of the sources of wisdom2 found in religious and non-religious worldviews

• appreciate and appraise the nature, significance and impact of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning.

2. Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religious and non-religious worldviews, so that they can:

• explain, using reasoned arguments, their ideas about how beliefs, practices and forms of expression influence individuals and communities

• express with increasing discernment their personal reflections and critical responses to questions and teachings about identity, diversity, meaning and value, including ethical issues

• appreciate and appraise varied dimensions of religion.

3. Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religious and non-religious worldviews, so that they can:

• investigate key concepts and questions of belonging, meaning, purpose and truth, responding creatively

• enquire into what enables different individuals and communities to live together respectfully for the wellbeing of all

• articulate clearly beliefs, values and commitments in order to explain why they may be important in their own and other people’s lives.

Right of withdrawal

We are aware that in the UK, parents have the right to withdraw their children from RE on the grounds that they wish to provide their own religious education. (School Standards and Framework Act 1998 S71 (3)). This will be the parents’ responsibility. Prior to withdrawal, parents must make an appointment to speak to the headteacher.