Religious Education

Intent

At Stockbridge Village Primary, the intent of Religious Education (RE), following the Wirral Scheme, is to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum that promotes pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development. Our aim is to foster respect, empathy, and understanding of diverse faiths and worldviews, while encouraging critical thinking and thoughtful reflection on moral and ethical issues.

RE supports pupils in exploring key religious concepts, developing their knowledge of a wide range of religions and worldviews, and considering their own beliefs and values. Through high-quality teaching and meaningful learning experiences, we nurture an inclusive ethos where all pupils feel valued, respected, and equipped to participate in a diverse society.

RE also plays a vital role in preparing pupils for life in modern Britain by promoting British values such as mutual respect, tolerance, and individual liberty.

Implementation

Our RE curriculum is carefully sequenced and builds in complexity as pupils progress through the school. Teachers use a range of engaging strategies—including interactive discussions, experiential learning, visits to places of worship, and hands-on work with religious artefacts—to bring learning to life.

We provide regular opportunities for pupils to ask questions, engage in respectful dialogue, and reflect on their own views and those of others. This approach helps deepen their understanding of religious beliefs, practices, and the role religion plays in individuals’ lives and wider communities.

Ongoing assessment and timely feedback ensure that pupils are supported appropriately and make sustained, meaningful progress throughout their RE journey.

Impact

The impact of our RE provision is evident in the respectful, open-minded attitudes our pupils display towards a range of religious and non-religious perspectives. Pupils engage with curiosity and empathy, demonstrating appreciation for the rich cultural and religious diversity both within our school and beyond.

They develop the ability to think critically, consider multiple viewpoints, and articulate their own beliefs with confidence and sensitivity. In classroom discussions, written work, and wider school activities, pupils show a genuine interest in exploring life’s big questions around identity, purpose, and morality.

RE also enhances pupils’ learning across the wider curriculum by encouraging connections with subjects such as history, PSHE, and literacy. Ultimately, our pupils leave Stockbridge Village Primary with the knowledge, understanding, and values needed to contribute positively to an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.

Parental right to withdraw children from RE

Parents have the right to choose whether to withdraw their child from RE without influence from the school, although a school should ensure parents or carers are informed of this right and are aware of the educational objectives and content of the RE syllabus. If pupils are withdrawn from RE, schools have a duty to supervise them, though not to provide additional teaching or to incur extra cost.

Withdrawal Procedure:

If a parent chooses to withdraw their child from RE, they need to:

• Inform the school of their request for their child(ren) to be withdrawn from RE and/or ‘religious assembly’ and whether they intend partial or total withdrawal for their child(ren)
• This should be either in person or in writing to the Headteacher; verbal communication (e.g. on the telephone, through the student or a note in the journal) is not an adequate method.