Curriculum – RE

Religious Education at Copeland Road Primary School

Our Religious Education leader is Mrs Murray

Our Religious Education governor is Kay Wanley

Pupils at Copeland Road Primary School are taught Religious Education according to the Durham Agreed Local Syllabus 2020. Throughout pupils time at Copeland Road Primary School, they are taught about Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism Hinduism and Islam.  In Religious Education lessons, children are taught with an enquiry based learning approach to engage, inspire, and challenge pupils. Within all RE units, pupils are given the opportunity to reflect on their own thoughts, feelings, experiences, ideas, values and beliefs.

When children leave Copeland Road Primary School, we would like them to be able to:

• Develop attitudes throughout Religious Education such as self awareness, respect, open-mindedness, appreciation and wonder.
• Develop deepening knowledge and understanding about a range of religious and non-religious world views, gain skills that enable critical thinking and reflect on their own thoughts, feelings, values and beliefs.
• Develop positive attitudes to their own and others beliefs, ideas, experiences, feelings and values, in a classroom climate that recognises and respects difference.

The long-term plan for Religious Education is below. There may be changes to the long-term plans as we continue to recover our curriculum after National lockdowns.

RE Long Term Plan

Please be aware that parents have a right of withdrawal from all of RE or part of RE.

Inter Faith Week

Inter Faith Week is an opportunity to bring people with different beliefs closer together. It was a chance to learn about one another and build positive relationships. During the week we had visitors in school that worked with each class. Each class created some religious art from the visits they had in class. During Inte Faith Week we had visits from Jaswinder Singh who is a Sikh, Jayamini who is a Buddhist and Father Edward who is a Christian from our local church at St Helen’s. We had whole school assemblies with our visitors before they worked with each class individually.

At the end of the week we had an Inter Faith assembly where each class shared their religious art they created throughout the week. It was brilliant to see everyone’s work and for the pupils to tell the rest of the school what they have learnt about religions throughout the week.

Reception shared their stained glass window pictures they created of the cross symbol and told us about their visit from Father Edward.

Class 1 created lanterns and shared what they had learnt about Buddha’s birthday from their visit from Jayamini.

Class 2 also learnt about Buddhism they created the Buddhist flag with Jayamini and told us what the different colours represent.

Class 3 created beautiful floor Rangoli whilst learning about Hinduism with Jayamini. Rangoli patterns are bright designs that are to welcome and bring good luck. Class 4 learnt about Judaism and created a piece of artwork which representing Hannukah. They also had a virtual visit by Newcastle Reform Synagogue and shared with us what they had learnt from their visit.

Class 5 made clay Hamsa Hands whilst learning about Islam with Jayamini. They shared with us that the hand symbolises power, bravery and defence.

Class 6 learnt about Sikhism and had a visit from Jaswinder Singh on Tuesday afternoon. They told us about The Five K’s – these are physical symbols worn by Sikhs.

Inter Faith Week was a very successful week, pupils have learnt from our visitors, asked questions and shown respect. It has enabled us to learn about one another and build positive relationships.