Kingsway Junior School
Religious Education (RE)
At Kingsway Junior School, Religious Education has a significant role in the development of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding. It promotes respect and open-mindedness towards others with different faiths and beliefs and encourages pupils to develop their sense of identity and belonging through self-awareness and reflection.
We use Jigsaw as a planning tool, aligned with the National Curriculum, to ensure a structured and progressive RE curriculum across the school. In addition to this, we include our own Multi-faith units in each year group to deepen pupils’ understanding of different worldviews and to highlight the similarities between people of all backgrounds. This is particularly important in today’s increasingly divided world, where fostering empathy, respect, and shared understanding is essential.
We believe that all children need to acquire core knowledge and understanding of the beliefs and practices of the religions and worldviews which not only shape history and culture but also guide personal development. The modern world needs young people who are confident in their own beliefs and values, while also able to respect religious and cultural differences and contribute positively to a cohesive and compassionate society.
What will my child learn?
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The Right of Withdrawal from Religious Education
In England, parents and carers have the right to withdraw their children from Religious Education. This right of withdrawal exists for all pupils in all types of schools. Parents and carers also have the right to withdraw their child from part of RE and can do so without giving any explanation.
Religion and belief have become more visible in public life in recent years, making it important that all pupils should have an opportunity to engage in RE. However, the parent of a pupil may request that they be excused from all or part of the religious education (RE) provided.
Parents who wish to withdraw their children from RE should be aware of its aims and what is covered in the RE curriculum and that they are given the opportunity to discuss this if they wish. It should be made clear whether the withdrawal is from the whole RE curriculum or specific parts of it.
If you wish to withdraw your child from RE, or parts of RE, please contact Ms Beale.
Important – limitations to withdraw
If pupils are withdrawn from RE, schools have a duty to supervise them, though not to provide additional teaching. A pupil may be required to work in another area of the school, such as library or break out area.
Whilst parents or carers have a right to withdraw children from RE, they should note that children may also encounter religions and beliefs and wider aspects of faith in other areas of the curriculum from which there is no right of withdrawal.
On occasion, spontaneous questions about religious matters are raised by pupils or issues related to religion arise in other curriculum subjects such as history or citizenship (PSHE) For example, schools promote community cohesion and help pupils to understand ideas about identity and diversity, feelings and emotions within both religious and non-religious contexts.
