“In diversity there is beauty and strength.” Maya Angelou
At Kates Hill Primary, our RE lessons help children learn about different religions, beliefs, and values. We encourage respect and understanding for others and support children in learning about right and wrong, and how to treat others with kindness and empathy. Children learn about a range of faiths and worldviews, both in our local community and around the world. They are encouraged to think deeply, share their own ideas, and listen to others respectfully. Through RE, pupils build their knowledge, develop their own beliefs, and grow as thoughtful and respectful individuals.
Intent
At Kates Hill Primary, we believe it is important for all our children to learn from and about religion, so they can better understand the world around them. Our RE curriculum helps children explore a range of world religions and beliefs, including Christianity and the other principal religions in Great Britain.
We aim to inspire curiosity, respect and reflection by helping children understand how religious beliefs shape lives, choices, and communities. Our lessons encourage children to ask thoughtful questions, think deeply about their own values, and respect the views of others. RE at Kates Hill supports the development of important life skills such as empathy, critical thinking and open-mindedness. Through the concepts of theology, philosophy, and social studies, pupils learn to understand different religious and non-religious world views, make connections and distinctions between them, and engage in respectful, balanced discussions about belief, values, and how people live.
Implementation
At Kates Hill Primary, we follow the Dudley Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (2023 –2028), which provides clear guidance on what should be taught at each stage. It ensures pupils explore key beliefs and practices from a range of religions including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism and Sikhism, while also meeting national curriculum expectations.
At Kate’s Hill Primary School, our RE curriculum is implemented through a clear skills progression that builds year on year. Our curriculum is carefully structured to develop pupils’ understanding across six key areas: Beliefs, Teachings and Sources of Wisdom & Authority; Ways of Living; Ways of Expressing Meaning; Questions of Identity, Diversity and Belonging; Questions of Meaning, Purpose and Truth; and Questions of Values and Commitment. This progression ensures that children deepen their knowledge, make connections across faiths and worldviews, and develop the skills to reflect, question, and discuss respectfully and thoughtfully. Lessons are interactive and thought-provoking, encouraging children to ask questions about life, meaning, and belief.
The RE teaching and learning approach has three core elements, which are woven together to provide breadth and balance within teaching and learning about religions and beliefs. Teaching and learning in the classroom will incorporate all three elements, allowing for overlap between elements as suits the religion, concept and question being explored.
We celebrate both religious and non-religious worldviews, and we value the rich diversity of our school and local community.
Impact
At Kates Hill Primary, our aim is for all pupils to leave with a strong sense of belonging, confidence in their beliefs, and the skills to think critically, reflect, and make meaningful connections in a diverse and ever-changing world.
We build progression in RE by carefully building on pupils’ prior learning. Retrieval is used not just to assess knowledge but to strengthen it, helping pupils revisit, recall, and deepen their understanding over time. Regular opportunities are provided for children to show what they know and apply what they’ve learned.
Through repeated encounters with a range of world religions, our curriculum develops pupils’ religious literacy, their ability to understand, explain, and reflect on key beliefs, practices, and values.
By the time children leave Kates Hill, they will be well-informed, respectful, and reflective individuals, able to appreciate the richness of belief in today’s world and contribute positively to their community and beyond.
Useful Websites
These ‘Be who you are’ films explore different people from a range of religious and non-religious people. Designed for 5-7 year olds. For 7-11 year olds “who should I try to be’ are films exploring the answer to this question from different people from a range of religious and non-religious people.
Developing Cultural Capital through Religious Educations
At Kates Hill Primary, we believe that cultural capital includes a deep understanding of the diverse beliefs, values, and traditions that shape our world. Our Religious Education (RE) provision is a cornerstone in helping children develop the knowledge, empathy, and respect needed to thrive in a multicultural society.
Through a rich and inclusive RE curriculum, we aim to:
- Introduce children to a wide range of world religions and non-religious worldviews.
- Encourage thoughtful discussion and reflection on moral, ethical, and philosophical questions.
- Promote respect, tolerance, and understanding of different beliefs and practices.
- Develop critical thinking and the ability to consider multiple perspectives.
- Provide meaningful experiences that help children grow into compassionate, informed, and open-minded individuals.
RE is not just about learning facts—it is a powerful tool for nurturing personal growth, social awareness, and a lifelong appreciation of diversity.