Intent
The staff at Springfield Junior School feel that ‘RE opens the children’s eyes to the world around them and the people and cultures too’.  Religious education is key for the children at Springfield Junior School in order to understand our world and the people around us. Children are taught about Christianity and the key beliefs and influences in the life of a Christian, as well as other principal religions and world views including Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Humanism. Through the teaching of RE, we aim to increase the children’s knowledge and understanding of the impact these religions have locally and globally. We also aim to develop positive attitudes to learning and to the beliefs and values of others through self-awareness, respect, open-mindedness, appreciation and wonder. Whichever religion or world-view the children are learning about, they are encouraged to ‘show acceptance, respect and kindness to others’ (School Development Plan 2020-2021). Our work as a Rights-respecting school also links to our RE as it involves the children understanding their right to their own beliefs and to share their thoughts and be respected and listened to.
 
Implementation
At Springfield, we teach Religious Education through blocked RE afternoons or days that fit the Suffolk SACRE’s Agreed Syllabus. Throughout their time with us, the children are given the opportunity to learn about some of the main religions and world-views in the UK: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Humanism. Through a mixture of fun, interactive and research-based lessons, children learn about these different beliefs and teachings, practices and ways of life and how believers express themselves in different ways.  The children are taught about sacred texts and other sources and consider their significance to people of different worldviews. They learn to reflect on and consider important questions and ideas, and discuss similarities and differences between different faiths and the key skills to be respectful and understanding of different beliefs. Children are taught specific key vocabulary relating to their area of study and are encouraged to show their knowledge and understanding in different ways, clearly and creatively communicating their ideas. At Springfield, pupils are encouraged to share their own religious beliefs and customs to celebrate the school’s cultural diversity. Key dates in religious calendars are referred to in other areas of teaching, such as an RE based talking assembly once a term for each year group and work referencing different religious festivals throughout the year.
Wherever possible, visitors are welcomed into school to share their experiences and stories with the children. Visits to places of worship are organised (when permitted) to help enhance the children’s learning and to help put their learning into context.

​Impact
The children at Springfield Junior School develop an understanding of different religions and world views during their RE experiences in Key Stage Two and develop a deepened respect for their peers and others around them who either share their own religion or views or have a different world view. Children enjoy their RE learning and work collaboratively to answer key questions. They can reflect on their own views and experiences and have a better understanding of identity, belonging, meaning, purpose and truth. Children are able to interpret, analyse and explain beliefs, teachings and sources of information. By the time children reach the end of Year 6, they are able to discuss ultimate questions of faith and different ethical questions and different faith responses to these. 
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