Religious Education
Religious Education (RE) is treated as a core subject in Horsell C of E Junior School and as a VA school based in Surrey, we follow the Guildford Diocese RE curriculum. RE is taught weekly.
Detailed information about the curriculum can be found through clicking the link below.
Intent
Religious Education at Horsell Junior School provokes challenging questions about meaning and purpose in life, beliefs (religious and non-religious), issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. In RE, children learn about and from worldviews, including Christianity and other principal religions and beliefs (including non-religious perspectives such as Humanism) in local, national and global contexts, to discover, explore and consider different answers to these questions. In RE, children learn to articulate their thoughts, be brave about their opinions, and collaborate with children who might hold beliefs that are very different from their own.
Teaching equips pupils with systematic knowledge and understanding of a range of worldviews, beliefs, concepts and practices, enabling them to develop their ideas, values and identities (personal knowledge).
Pupils learn to articulate clearly and coherently their personal beliefs, ideas, values and experiences, whilst respecting the right of others to differ. Religious Education supports pupils and students in developing their sense of identity and belonging and enables them to flourish individually within their communities and as citizens in a diverse world.
Implementation
There are three Golden Threads running through the Surrey Agreed Syllabus for RE: God, relating to theological approaches, Identity, relating to more philosophical approaches, and Community. These Golden Threads are woven throughout the units of work as part of the syllabus progression model in the way that they develop children’s knowledge, understanding and skills.
As part of our RE curriculum, children visit a place of worship within each academic year. Visits have included the Shah Jahan Mosque, St Mary's Church, Wat Phra Dhammakaya Buddhist temple and a local Synagogue.
Impact
At the end of every unit, teachers assess the progression that pupils have made against the three 'golden threads', and the key knowledge that the children should remember for each unit. At the end of each year, pupils undertake a thematic unit, which pulls together the learning from across the year.
At the end of the school year, pupils' attainment in RE is shared in their end of year reports.
Legal Requirements
Religious Education must be provided for all registered pupils in full-time education except those withdrawn at their parents' request (DFE Circular 1/94, paragraphs 44 and Non-Statutory Guidance 2010 page 28)
We will comply with any request from a parent to withdraw their child and parents are not required to give their reasons for wanting to do so. However, in view of the Christian ethos and distinctive Christian character of our school, we would hope that all children admitted would participate fully in RE, and that anyone wishing to withdraw their child would discuss this with the headteacher before making this decision.
Parents may provide alternative material for their child to use during their withdrawal. The school will ensure supervision.
St Mary's Church
Horsell Junior School has strong links with St. Mary’s Church, in Horsell. We visit the church as a whole school three times a year for Christmas, Easter and a whole school communion. Please refer to the link below for more information.