South Hill Primary School

At South Hill we teach a broad and balanced RE curriculum, which aims to develop skills and knowledge that:

• promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, social and mental development of pupils

• prepares pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life

• promotes British values

• promotes community cohesion (Education Act, 2006)

• protects children from the risk of radicalisation, from whatever source (The Prevent duty – departmental advice for schools and childcare providers”, June 2015)

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Our Curriculum

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At South Hill, we follow ‘Discovery RE’. This is a comprehensive enquiry-based, teaching programme for Religious Education, which aims to give pupils the knowledge, critical thinking skills, open minded and respectful attitudes with which to investigate the world of religion and beliefs. It encompasses the Worldview approach to RE enabling pupils to form their own decisions about what RE means to them and develop their own personal worldview whilst empathising with what it means to other religious and non religious belief holders. It also aims to enable children to grow spiritually by developing their awareness and skills of reflection, their experience of awe and wonder and their appreciation of stillness and silence.

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Lessons are carefully mapped out in our ‘Long term plan’ and progress through our six golden threads (the 6 principal religions as well as touching on Humanism in appropriate units):

• CHRISTIANITY (EYFS, Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5, Y6)

• JUDAISM (Y1, Y2)

• HINDUISM (Y5)

• SIKHISM (Y3)

• BUDDHISM (Y4)

• ISLAM (EYFS, Y6)

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The Big Question

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Lessons are based around a half-termly ‘Big question’ and follow this sequence of progression:

• Step 1: Engagement: the children’s own experience and world view is explored to act as bridge from their world (which may or may not include religion) into the world of the religion being studied.

• Step 2: Investigation: over approximately 3 lessons the teacher will guide the children to explore and investigate appropriate subject knowledge relevant to that question of enquiry.

• Step 3: Evaluation: An assessment activity enables each child to show their thinking and the depth of critical evaluation

• Step 4: Expression: This refers the children back to the starting point of their own experience and allows them to reflect on whether their findings have influenced their own thinking.

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Each year group has a special owl from the Owl Crew. They represent wisdom and promote questioning and exploration. The owl will provide answers and challenge with further questions.

By the end of Year 6, we want our pupils to:

• Develop knowledge of world religions by asking ‘big questions.’

• Respect the similarities and differences between people and their cultures.

• Have the confidence to develop their own sense of identity and belonging.

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Trips, hooks and theme days

 

Our RE curriculum is enriched by a number of school trips, theme days and assemblies and these provide excellent opportunities to bring our learning to life. Examples are:

 

• EYFS: Christmas visit to the local church to hang decorations.

• Year 1: Celebration of Hannukah with parent visitors to explain their living and believing life.

• Year 3: Theme day exploring Sikhism concluding with a shared Langar

• Year 5: Visit to Gadebridge Park with the vicar linking the church to local history.

• Whole school assemblies with Father Mike exploring Easter and Christmas

 

 

International Day (please see the ‘International Day’ section of our website)

 

Each year at South Hill School, we celebrate 'International Day'. Each class chooses a country from around the world, which is also representative of our South Hill communities. For that day, year groups investigate and learn about their chosen country. They can wear clothes from their celebrated country or colours of the flag. They experience the food, music, dance and interests of the people in that country. Pupils also explore the culture, traditions and beliefs of their chosen country.

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