Religious Education and Collective Worship

The Church of England’s Statement of Entitlement states that coverage of Christianity in church schools should be two thirds of the total RE curriculum.  We use the Understanding Christianity resource to deliver the majority of our teaching in Christianity.

The other third of the Curriculum is focused on a rigorous study of other faiths, developing religious literacy and the three interrelated strands.

EXPLORE – the text and context – making sense of the text

RELATE – how do the actions of the believer relate to the beliefs?  What is the impact of religion?

APPLY – how can I apply the belief to what I see of my life and the world around me – encouraging pupils to make connections.

As a Telford and Wrekin primary school we use the T&W Agreed Syllabus to support the teaching content of other major world faiths.

Collective Worship 

Guidance for collective worship (2021)

Collective worship is the unique heartbeat of a Church school and is offered as part of a wider opportunity for pupils and adults to encounter faith by engaging in conversations about God, both as individuals and together. This document, principally for Church of England schools, draws on our Vision for Education to set out an approach to Collective Worship.

Collective Worship Guidance –  (18.5.21)

Collective Worship Policy 2023

 

Right to Withdraw

We wish to be an inclusive community but recognise that parents have the legal right to withdraw their children from religious education or collective worship on the grounds of conscience, without giving a reason.  Parents wishing to exercise this right are asked to write to the headteacher who will then invite the parents into school to discuss their concerns, clarify the nature of the RE and worship provided by the school and set out the options open to the parents as set out in education law. However, the right of withdrawal does not extend to other areas of the curriculum when, as may happen on occasion, spontaneous questions on religious matters are raised by pupils or there are issues related to religion that arise in other subjects.  Where a pupil is withdrawn from RE and do not take part in alternative religious education they will be supervised by an appropriate member of staff whilst doing work set by their parents which will seek to further their knowledge and understanding of their parents’ beliefs and values.