At Meadow Green Primary School, we believe that it is important for all our pupils to learn from and about religion, so that they can understand the world around them. The aim of Religious Education in our school is to help children to acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and the other principal religions represented in Great Britain; to appreciate the way that religious beliefs shape life and behaviour, develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues and enhance their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Religious Education is taught throughout the school in such a way as to reflect the overall aims, values, and philosophy of the school.

It plays an important role, along with all other curriculum areas, particularly PSHE, in promoting social awareness and understanding in our children. We encourage our pupils to ask questions about the world and to reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences.  We include and promote British values, ensuring that children are aware of their rights and responsibilities as UK citizens.

Our curriculum is designed to encourage creativity, imagination, enquiry, debate, discussion and independence.

We study these religions:

• Christianity
• Islam
• Judaism
• Hinduism
• Buddhism
• Sikhism

Experiences and enrichment opportunities at Meadow Green Primary

• using imaginative play or drama to express feelings and ideas
• comparing religions and worldviews through discussion
• handling artefacts
• exploring scared texts
• responding to images, games, stories, art, music and dance
• meeting visitors from local religious communities
• making visits to religious places of worship where possible, and where not, making use of videos and the internet
• participating in moments of quiet reflection
• using ICT to further explore religion and belief globally

There are no presumptions made as to the religious backgrounds and beliefs and values of the children and the staff.  We value the religious background of all members of the school community and hope that this will encourage individuals to share their own experiences with others freely.  All religions and their communities are treated with respect and sensitivity and we value the links, which are, and can be made between home, school, and a faith community. 

The children at Meadow Green Primary enjoy learning about other religions and why people choose, or choose not to follow a religion.  Through their RE learning, the children are able to make links between their own lives and those of others in their community and in the wider world, developing an understanding of other people’s cultures and ways of life.  As such RE is invaluable in an ever changing world.

We envision RE curriculum impacting the pupils in the following ways:

• extend their knowledge and understanding of religions and beliefs
• develop a religious vocabulary and interpret religious symbolism in a variety of forms
• reflect on questions of meaning, offering their own thoughtful and informed insights into religious and secular world-views
• explore ultimate questions of beliefs and values in relation to a range of contemporary issues in an ever-changing society

Religious Education (RE) is taught in accordance with the Worcestershire Agreed Syllabus and the opportunity for collective worship occurs daily. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from RE or Collective Worship.