Purpose of Study
RE contributes to the Carville Child’s education by provoking challenging questions about meaning and purpose in life, beliefs about God, ultimate reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. In RE pupils learn about religious and non-religious world views in order to discover, explore and consider different answers to these questions. They learn to interpret, analyse, evaluate and critically respond to the claims that religious and non-religious world views make. Pupils learn to express their insights and to agree or disagree respectfully.
We aim to equip the Carville Child with knowledge and understanding of what is meant by the term’s ‘religion’ and ‘worldview’ as well as systematic knowledge and understanding of a range of religious and non-religious world views.
RE offers opportunities for personal reflection and the Carville Child’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development as it encourages them to examine the significance of their learning in relation to themselves and others. It enables the Carville Child to explore their own beliefs (whether they are religious or not), ideas, feelings, experiences and values in the light of what they learn. RE encourages empathy and respect. RE enables the Carville Child to have a nuanced and informed understanding of political, social and moral issues that they will need to face as they grow up in an increasingly globalised world. It will help them deal positively with controversial issues, to manage strongly held differences of belief and to challenge stereotypes and prejudice. As such RE is central to good local, national and global citizenship.
Teaching in RE must promote therefore openness, respect for others, scholarly accuracy and critical enquiry.
Who is the Carville Child?
The Carville Child will appreciate that worldviews are complex, diverse and plural and have influence on individuals, communities, societies and cultures. The Carville Child will develop their own sense of identity and belonging. It also promotes respect for the right of others to hold different beliefs, values and ideas. The Carville Child will have developed an aptitude for dialogue so that they can participate positively in our society with its diverse religious and non-religious worldviews. They will show mutual respect of others’ faiths and beliefs which is a fundamental British value. The Carville Child will be prepared for life in modern Britain.
Carville RE Curriculum Rationale
Will develop deepening knowledge and understanding about a range of religious and non-religious world views so that they can:
- describe and explain beliefs and theological concepts
- describe and explain some sources of authority and teachings within and across religious and non-religious traditions
- describe and explain ways in which beliefs are expressed
- know and understand the significance and impact of beliefs and practices on individuals, communities and societies
- connect these together into a coherent framework of beliefs and practices
- Will develop a deepening understanding of specialist vocabulary and terms
- Will allow children to know and understand about religious diversity within the region, as well as nationally and globally
- Will allow children to know and understand how religion can be defined and what is meant by the term ‘religious and non-religious world views and with increasing clarity know that these world views are complex, diverse and plural
- Will enable critical thinking and enquiry in relation to the material they study
- Will encourage children to reflect on their own thoughts, feelings, experiences, ideas, values and beliefs with increasing discernment
