Our Curriculum

At Brook, we follow the Kent Agreed Syllabus for RE.

The principal aim of RE in the Kent Syllabus is: To engage pupils in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religion and worldviews address, so that they can develop the understanding and skills needed to appreciate and appraise varied responses to these questions, as well as develop responses of their own.

We seek to enable pupils to:

• engage in meaningful, informed and academic dialogue with those of other faiths and none, and
• develop evaluative responses of their own to the questions and issues addressed in RE.

The curriculum for RE aims to ensure that all pupils:

1. Know about and understand a range of religious and non-religious worldviews, so that they can:

• describe, explain and analyse beliefs and practices, recognising the diversity which exists within and between communities and amongst individuals
• identify, investigate and respond to questions posed, and responses offered, by some of the sources of wisdom found in religious and non-religious worldviews
• appreciate and appraise the nature, significance and impact of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning.

2. Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religious and non-religious world views, so that they can:

• explain, using reasoned arguments, their ideas about how beliefs, practices and forms of expression influence individuals and communities
• express with increasing discernment their personal reflections and critical responses to questions and teachings about identity, diversity, meaning and value, including ethical issues
• appreciate and appraise varied dimensions of religion

3. Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religious and non-religious worldviews, so that they can:

• investigate key concepts and questions of belonging, meaning, purpose and truth, responding creatively
• enquire into what enables different individuals and communities to live together respectfully for the wellbeing of all
• articulate clearly beliefs, values and commitments in order to explain why they may be important in their own and other people’s lives.

R.E. is taught weekly, for one hour, as an explicit subject through the ‘key question’ approach. This is planned across a 5-step approach. Links are made through our concept reviews, looking back at prior learning and retrieving previously taught knowledge through our retrieval activities. RE units are divide into three strands of key questions: Believing, Expressing, Living.

R.E. topics are taught right from the Early Years. In addition to this, pupils follow the Development Matters curriculum, which includes objectives related to R.E.