At Hobbayne Primary School, we follow the Ealing Agreed Syllabus, Sowing the Seeds of the Future which has been approved by Ealing SACRE (Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education).

 

In Key Stage 1, the children study integrated topics which examine aspects of several different religions. For example, in Special Foods, the children explore food beginning with their own experience of eating food for special occasions and extend this to looking at special food eaten in the Christian, Sikh, Muslim, Hindu and Jewish faiths.

 

This approach is continued in Key Stage Two. However, each year group also studies a religion in more detail. In addition, all the children have the opportunity to discover about a major festival as part of their preparation for our faith assemblies. There is no denominational partiality. Emphasis is placed largely on understanding, responding and valuing all religions.

 

We aim to promote children's spiritual and moral well-being and foster mutual respect for different faiths.

Assemblies (both school and class) contribute to pupils' spiritual, moral and cultural development. Non-contentious non-denominational themes and issues from a variety of faiths are selected with time for silent reflection. We believe that it is the responsibility of the parents to educate their child in the ways of any particular religion/faith.

 

As part of religious education study, children visit religious places of worship of all religions. This enables them to understand each other's beliefs and not cause offence because of ignorance. Parents are encouraged to allow children to participate in all visits as these foster mutual understanding and respect.

 

RE is taught in a variety of ways. The children have access to different resources ranging from books to statues and other religious artefacts such as a Seder plate, Holy Books etc. Children are invited to make comparisons with their own experiences. Teachers also encourage children to use skills from other subjects, notably Literacy, to express what they have learned.