Religious Education (RE)

Vision

At Cayley, our RE curriculum is designed to be challenging, inspiring, and engaging. We aim to help pupils confidently express their ideas about religion, beliefs, and spirituality. Through exploring diverse identities, visiting places of worship, and meeting people from different faiths and worldviews, pupils develop a deeper understanding of beliefs and practices. The curriculum promotes social harmony, respect for difference, and an awareness of British values, fostering empathy and cohesion within our school and wider community.

Intent

The RE curriculum encourages pupils to explore a wide range of religious and non-religious worldviews, developing knowledge, understanding, and critical thinking skills. Pupils learn to:

• understand beliefs, practices, and values across different faiths
• reflect on their own ideas and experiences
• engage respectfully with diverse perspectives
• make connections between religion, culture, and community

Through RE, pupils develop religious literacy, empathy, and the ability to consider different viewpoints thoughtfully.

Implementation

In EYFS and Key Stage 1, RE is taught for 45 minutes per week. In Key Stage 2, lessons are 50 minutes per week or delivered in blocks/RE days, totalling 45 hours per year. Learning is captured in class floor books, documenting discussions, group activities, and key insights to provide a collective and visual record of progress.

Planning follows the Tower Hamlets Agreed Syllabus (SACRE) and is structured around 35 key enquiry questions: 6 in EYFS, 8 in Key Stage 1, 11 in Lower Key Stage 2, and 10 in Upper Key Stage 2. Each question is aligned with a strand—Believing, Expressing, or Living—and provides a framework for exploring a broad and balanced range of faiths and worldviews. Clear learning objectives and outcomes guide teaching and support pupils in developing understanding and respect for different perspectives.

Lessons follow a structured approach:

• recap prior learning to reinforce understanding
• starter activity to spark curiosity through questions, images, or discussion prompts
• main activity differentiated for all learners, including scaffolded tasks, creative responses, or open-ended investigations
• plenary or reflection to consolidate learning and allow pupils to articulate insights

Lessons are adapted to ensure accessibility for all pupils, including visual prompts, scaffolded activities, discussion support, and alternative ways to record understanding.

Impact

Pupils develop knowledge of a range of religions and worldviews, alongside skills in reflection, enquiry, and critical thinking. They learn to engage respectfully with different perspectives, articulate their own ideas, and make meaningful connections between beliefs, culture, and community.

Progress is assessed through:

• formative assessment via questioning, discussion, and peer feedback
• summative assessment through creative projects, written reflections, and quizzes

Feedback is timely and purposeful, using verbal, written, and self-assessment methods to encourage reflection and improvement.

Monitoring includes learning walks, book looks, and staff surveys to ensure consistent teaching, engagement, and depth of learning across all year groups. This supports high standards and a cohesive, inclusive learning environment.