Religious Education
At Westbury Junior School, Religious Education helps pupils to understand the diverse religious and non-religious worldviews that shape our local, national and global communities. Our RE curriculum is taught in line with the Wiltshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education and is supported by the Oak National Academy Religious Education curriculum.
Our curriculum reflects our school vision, “Let your light shine” (Matthew 5:16), and is underpinned by our core values of Respect, Care and Inspire. We want pupils to develop curiosity, knowledge and understanding, enabling them to engage thoughtfully with questions about religion, belief, identity, meaning and purpose.
Throughout Years 3 to 6, learning is carefully sequenced so that knowledge builds progressively over time. Pupils revisit important concepts and ideas in greater depth, making connections between previous learning and new knowledge. The curriculum is knowledge-rich and places importance on developing subject-specific vocabulary, enabling pupils to communicate their understanding with increasing accuracy and confidence.
Pupils learn about a range of religious and non-religious worldviews, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and non-religious worldviews. Christianity has a significant place within our curriculum, reflecting the requirements of the Wiltshire Agreed Syllabus and the context of our school. Alongside this, pupils develop an understanding of the diversity of beliefs and worldviews represented within modern Britain and the wider world.
Our teaching recognises that there is significant diversity both between and within religious and non-religious traditions. Learning therefore goes beyond acquiring isolated facts about festivals, places of worship or traditions. Through carefully selected examples, stories and real-life case studies, pupils explore how beliefs are understood, expressed and lived by individuals and communities. They learn that there is no single way of belonging to a religion or worldview and that beliefs and practices can be influenced by culture, family, community and personal interpretation.
The curriculum is organised around key themes which help pupils make connections across their learning. These include continuity, change and diversity; the nature of religion and belief; expressing belief; values and morality; authority and influence; and meaning and purpose. Through these themes, pupils consider how beliefs develop, how they influence people's lives and how individuals and communities express and respond to their beliefs.
RE also develops pupils' ability to think critically and ask meaningful questions. Drawing on the disciplinary approaches of theology, philosophy and the social sciences, pupils are introduced to different ways of exploring religion and worldviews.
Through theological enquiry, pupils may consider the meaning and interpretation of religious texts, stories and beliefs. Philosophical enquiry encourages them to explore questions about truth, morality, meaning and existence. Through the social sciences, pupils investigate how beliefs are experienced in everyday life and how they influence individuals and communities. These approaches support pupils in interpreting information, considering different perspectives and communicating their ideas with increasing confidence.
Religious Education provides opportunities for pupils to reflect on their own ideas and experiences while developing an informed understanding of the beliefs and experiences of others. Classroom discussion is an important part of learning, and pupils are encouraged to ask questions, share their views and listen carefully to different perspectives. They learn that disagreement can be approached respectfully and that understanding another person's beliefs does not require them to share those beliefs.
Our RE curriculum makes an important contribution to pupils' wider personal development. Through learning about religious and non-religious worldviews, children develop an understanding of diversity and are supported to engage positively with difference. They consider how beliefs and values can influence choices, relationships, communities and society, while exploring questions that have been significant to people throughout history and remain relevant today.
Teaching is designed to be accessible and inclusive for all learners. Lessons provide clear explanations and carefully structured learning, with regular opportunities to revisit and apply knowledge. A range of resources, including stories, artefacts, images, discussion and real-life examples, helps pupils to explore complex and sometimes abstract ideas. Learning is adapted where necessary to ensure that every child can participate meaningfully and make progress.
Through Religious Education, we aim to develop knowledgeable, curious and thoughtful pupils who are prepared to engage with the increasingly diverse world around them. By the end of Year 6, we want our children to have developed a secure foundation of knowledge about a range of religious and non-religious worldviews, understand that beliefs are diverse and lived in different ways, and have the confidence to ask questions and consider different perspectives.
Ultimately, our RE curriculum supports children to understand more about themselves, others and the world in which they live, equipping them to become respectful, reflective and informed members of society.