Hawkesley Church Primary Academy

Intent, Implementation, and Impact Statement for Religious Education

Intent

At Hawkesley Church Primary Academy, we aim to provide every child with the opportunity to ‘Let your light shine’ (Matthew, 5:16). RE is an essential, contributing component to facilitating this within our learning community and aims to celebrate the rich, culturally diverse society that our children are growing up in today. As a Church of England and Methodist School, we ensure direct teaching about John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. We seek to provide our pupils with the opportunity to: acquire a rich, deep knowledge and understanding of Christian belief and practice; interact with Biblical text and theological ideas; and be engaged and challenged through an exploration of core concepts and questions. Our vision is to ensure that children leave our school with the ability to enjoy the full and free liberty of thinking for themselves. We believe it is paramount to explore other world faiths in order to celebrate and foster an awareness of the differences that exist within our academy, community, and the wider world. It is essential that our RE curriculum ensures that we enable the children to show respect for diversity and differences while simultaneously encouraging them to identify the similarities.

Our school values and ethos underpin and drive everything we do here at Hawkesley Church Primary. Our Christian vision is seen as an expression of God’s limitless love and grace, illuminating the greatness in everyone, so they can ‘Let their light shine’. It reflects our school’s distinctively inclusive and aspirational culture. This leads everyone here at Hawkesley to live out a bold and empowering spirit that characterises decision-making and forward planning by leaders and governors.

Implementation

We implement our RE curriculum through a well-structured programme that is both engaging and accessible to all pupils, ensuring high standards of learning and teaching. Our approach includes:

• Curriculum Design: Our RE curriculum follows ‘Undxerstanding Christianity’ , ‘The Immanuel Project’ and Units from ‘The Methodist Church’ for Religious Education, with a balanced focus on Christianity and other major world religions, such as Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, and Buddhism. It includes an exploration of non-religious worldviews, including atheism and humanism.
• Skill Development: Lessons are designed to promote key skills such as critical thinking, communication, and empathy. Activities include group discussions, artistic expression, role-playing, and community projects that bring the subject to life and impart deep understanding.
• Cross-Curricular Links: We enhance learning in RE through integration with other subjects, such as History, Geography, and PSHE (Personal, Social, and Health Education), providing pupils with a holistic understanding of the topics studied.
• Professional Development: Teachers receive ongoing training and support to deliver high-quality RE instruction, including workshops led by RE subject leaders, external experts, and opportunities for collaborative planning across year groups.
• Community Engagement: We foster relationships with local religious communities, providing opportunities for pupils to visit places of worship and engage with religious leaders, thus allowing first-hand experiences that enhance their learning.

Impact

The impact of our RE curriculum is evidenced through the following outcomes:

• Knowledge and Understanding: Pupils demonstrate a secure understanding of major world religions and can articulate their beliefs and values clearly.
• Respect and Tolerance: Surveys and feedback indicate that pupils respect diverse perspectives and can discuss beliefs and values respectfully, fostering a harmonious school environment. School culture reflects inclusivity, where differences are celebrated, and dialogue is encouraged.
• Personal Reflection: Pupils exhibit greater self-awareness and emotional intelligence. They can reflect on their own beliefs and values and relate them to the wider community, promoting personal growth and maturity.
• Community Cohesion: Collaborative projects and partnerships with local faith groups enhance community ties, providing real-world contexts for learning and contributing to a more inclusive society.

Our RE programme at Hawkesley Church Primary Academy prepares our pupils to navigate and contribute positively to the diverse world around them. We remain committed to continuous improvement, ensuring our RE curriculum evolves to meet the needs of our children and the community we serve.

At Hawkesley Church Primary Academy, we respect the individual beliefs and values of our families. We recognise that parents have a legal right to withdraw their children from religious education (RE) lessons if they wish to do so.

If you decide to exercise this right, please inform us in writing, and we will arrange for your child to be appropriately supervised during these times. While we do not provide additional teaching during these periods, we ensure that all students are engaged in meaningful educational activities.

For further information or to discuss alternative arrangements for RE, please contact the school administration.