WHAT IS RELIGIOUS EDUCATION?

Religious Education is the development of the child’s knowledge, understanding and respect for religious beliefs, values and customs. It is concerned with learning about religions and learning from religions. The faith background of staff and children is respected at all times. Religious Education contributes to a child’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development as well as the five outcomes of Every Child Matters, which still underpin our values and curriculum.

AIMS

In accordance with the Birmingham Agreed Syllabus 2022 our aims are to promote pupil’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development by helping them to:

• address the fundamental questions of life;
• respond to such questions in the light of their experiences and understanding;
• reflect on their beliefs, values and experiences in light of their study;
• develop the ability to make reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral life;
• develop positive attitudes towards other people, respecting their rights to hold beliefs different from their own and enable them to live in a multi-faith society;
• develop knowledge and understanding of the faiths, practices and values of religious traditions found in Birmingham and elsewhere in the world;
• begin to understand their influences on individuals, families, communities, societies and cultures.

Religious Education aims at spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development
and prepares pupils for a future in society by:

1. learning from faith.  (LfR)
2. learning about religious traditions. (LaR)

Religious Education is taught through 24 ‘Dispositions’:

• Being Imaginative and Explorative
• Appreciating Beauty
• Expressing Joy
• Being Thankful
• Caring for Others, Animals and the Environment
• Sharing and Being Generous
• Being Regardful of Suffering
• Being Merciful and Forgiving
• Being Fair and Just
• Living by Rules
• Being Accountable and Living with Integrity
• Being Temperate, Exercising Self-Discipline and Cultivating Serene Contentment
• Being Modest and Listening to Others
• Cultivating Inclusion, Identity and Belonging
• Creating Unity and Harmony
• Participating and Willing to Lead
• Remembering Roots
• Being Loyal and Steadfast
• Being Hopeful and Visionary
• Being Courageous and Confident
• Being Curious and Valuing Knowledge
• Being Open, Honest and Truthful
• Being Reflective and Self-Critical
• Being Silent and Attentive to, and Cultivating a Sense for, the Sacred and Transcendence

"The dispositions both define and promote a flourishing personal, spiritual and moral character... and are the starting point for all study in Religious Education. The dispositions encourage pupils to think about, and act upon, a growing understanding of their own faith or viewpoint, whilst acknowledging their neighbour’s perspective." (Birmingham Agreed Syllabus, 2022)

"A disposition is a prevailing quality of character marked by an inclination, or will, to act in a particular way or by a tendency to a certain kind of action."