At Elm Tree, our Religious Education curriculum is fundamentally about equipping every pupil to navigate and appreciate the complex tapestry of beliefs, values, and cultures that shape our world.

 

Our teaching is anchored entirely in the Lancashire Agreed Syllabus 2021 (LAS 2021), using its enquiry-based model to promote deep understanding rather than superficial facts. The curriculum is well sequenced and ambitious, challenging pupils to explore big questions of life, meaning, and purpose from multiple perspectives.

 

The LAS 2021 Disciplinary Strands in Action

We structure our learning around the three core disciplinary strands identified in the syllabus:

1. Making Sense: Pupils systematically acquire substantive knowledge about diverse worldviews. This includes a deep focus on Christianity and Islam as the required main religions, alongside a comprehensive study of Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism, and non-religious worldviews like Humanism. Students learn to accurately describe, explain, and analyse beliefs, practices (like prayer or pilgrimage), and forms of expression.

2. Connecting: This strand focuses on the impact of worldviews. Students explore how beliefs translate into action, influencing everything from ethical decision-making in contemporary issues to community life and cultural norms. For example, pupils might connect Islamic beliefs about Ummah (community) with acts of charity.

3. Enquiry: Here, pupils deploy their knowledge and skills to ask and answer challenging questions. They are encouraged to become theological, philosophical, and ethical thinkers, using evidence from sacred texts, artefacts, and real-life examples to formulate reasoned responses.

 

We enrich the curriculum through visits to local places of worship and by welcoming visitors from diverse faith communities to share their living traditions.

 

At Elm Tree, RE is the gateway to responsible citizenship, ensuring our young people leave us with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to contribute positively to a cohesive and compassionate global society.

Religious Education Long Term Plan- Click Here