‘Religious education emphasises respect for others, regardless of their beliefs, race or social status.’

Victoria Purcell

INTENT

At Barnburgh Primary Academy, our Religious Education curriculum is rooted in the Doncaster Agreed Syllabus and plays a vital role in developing pupils’ understanding of religion, belief, and worldviews in today’s diverse society. Religious Education provokes challenging and meaningful questions about life, belief, morality, identity, and what it means to be human. Through learning about and from religions and worldviews, children are supported to explore different perspectives and to reflect thoughtfully on their own ideas and values.

Our RE curriculum equips pupils with systematic knowledge and understanding of Christianity, other principal religions, and non-religious worldviews, enabling them to recognise both diversity and shared human experience. Through enquiry, discussion, and reflection, pupils develop the skills to interpret sources of wisdom, evaluate beliefs and practices, and articulate their own views with clarity and respect. RE at Barnburgh supports pupils to become thoughtful, empathetic, and reflective individuals who are prepared to participate positively in a plural, multi-faith society.

Our Core Values provide the platform on which we have built our curriculum offer at Barnburgh Primary Academy. Our Religious Education curriculum is underpinned by our Core Values in the following ways:

COURAGE: In Barnburgh, courage in Religious Education is developed by encouraging pupils to ask big questions, explore complex ideas, and express their thoughts about belief, faith, and spirituality. Children are supported to share viewpoints, listen to others, and change their thinking when appropriate. A safe and respectful learning environment enables pupils to engage with challenging questions and unfamiliar ideas confidently, recognising that thoughtful questioning is a strength.

PERSEVERANCE: Perseverance in RE is taught through sustained enquiry and reflection. Pupils revisit key concepts such as belief, morality, identity, and belonging across the curriculum, deepening their understanding over time. Teachers support pupils to grapple with abstract ideas, interpret sources of wisdom, and make connections between teachings and lived experience, recognising that meaningful understanding often develops gradually.

RESPECT: Respect sits at the heart of Religious Education at Barnburgh. Pupils learn to appreciate and value the beliefs, practices, and traditions of others, recognising diversity within and between religions and worldviews. Through dialogue and discussion, children are taught to listen carefully, respond sensitively, and treat all beliefs and viewpoints with dignity. Respect in RE helps pupils to understand how people live together peacefully in a diverse society.

AMBITION: Ambition in Religious Education is fostered by setting high expectations for thinking, discussion, and reflection. Pupils are encouraged to develop rich subject vocabulary, reason carefully, and express ideas with increasing confidence and depth. By exploring how beliefs influence individuals and communities, pupils are inspired to engage thoughtfully with the world and to recognise the relevance and importance of RE in understanding society and themselves.

INDEPENDENCE: Independence in RE is developed by giving pupils opportunities to reflect personally, form their own views, and justify their responses using evidence and examples. Children are encouraged to think critically, make connections to their own experiences, and respond creatively to enquiry questions. With appropriate support and structure, pupils grow in confidence as independent thinkers who can articulate their beliefs while respecting the rights of others to differ.

Please find the Religious Education progression document below. This is a working document.