Religious Education Shines Brightly at Stelling Minnis...
At Stelling Minnis Church of England Primary School, Religious Education (RE) is taught through regular lessons in every class. Our RE curriculum enables pupils to explore Christianity and other major world faiths and beliefs, helping them to understand the world around them and reflect on their own ideas and values.
We use the Understanding Christianity resource to support our teaching of Christianity. This resource is designed to help pupils develop their own thinking while gaining a deep and meaningful understanding of Christian belief and practice as well as other world faiths such as Judaism, Islam, Sikhism and Hinduism.
Understanding Christianity provides a coherent and progressive approach to teaching Christianity across the school. It focuses on eight core Christian concepts that sit at the heart of mainstream Christian belief, such as Creation, Incarnation, Salvation and Kingdom of God.
The resource supports learning through three key elements:
- Making Sense of the Text
Pupils develop skills in reading and interpreting biblical texts, learning how Christians understand and use the Bible. - Understanding the Impact
Children explore how Christians respond to these texts and beliefs in their everyday lives, both in the UK and around the world. - Making Connections
Pupils are encouraged to reflect on what they have learned, making links between Christian beliefs, their own experiences, and their wider understanding of the world.
Each unit focuses on a core concept and is taught through key questions, carefully chosen Bible passages, and discussion about how belief influences action. Over time, pupils build secure knowledge and understanding, supported by clear progression and age-appropriate expectations.
When studying other faiths and beliefs, our teaching also follows two important strands:
- Learning About Religion
Pupils develop knowledge of religious traditions, important figures, places of worship, key beliefs and practices, and how faith influences the lives of believers. - Learning From Religion
Children are encouraged to reflect on what they can learn from others’ beliefs and ways of life, helping them to develop respect, empathy and thoughtful responses to big questions.
Pupils’ learning is assessed against clear knowledge “building blocks” and end-of-phase outcomes. This ensures progression in knowledge, understanding and skills, and supports children in becoming confident, reflective learners who can engage thoughtfully with religious ideas and texts.
Through our RE curriculum, we aim to nurture curiosity, respect and understanding, while supporting pupils in exploring faith, belief and meaning in a diverse and changing world.