The principal aim of RE is to engage pupils in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religion and world views address, so that they can develop the understanding and skills needed to appreciate and appraise varied responses to these questions, as well as develop responses of their own (Kent Agreed Syllabus, December 2017).

RE is taught in dynamic and creative ways at Kingsnorth School, children are given opportunities to learn through discussion, art, drama and by using real life artefacts, all of which enhance their learning. Achievement is given prominence in school and classroom displays which show the children’s journey towards answering big questions. The provision of Religious Education covers a wide range of world faiths allowing pupils to explore their own beliefs through discovery of other cultures.

We follow guidelines from Kent Agreed Syllabus, including Understanding Christianity, as recommended by the Canterbury Diocese for both our RE and Collective Worship. This in turn ties in with our Learning Challenge Curriculum in which pupils explore other countries. A good example of this is our practice of using the Mexican ‘Posada’, where Mary and Joseph journey around the homes of people in the run-up to Christmas.

Pupils enjoy RE lessons in which they are encouraged to engage with a series of mini questions leading up to answering a big question which reflects the learning for the term. This learning journey is documented in the pupils’ books and on our working walls. Pupils are taught to appraise different beliefs, share their views and form reasoned responses for themselves. In addition, learning about religion is always applied to real life so that our children can learn from it and understand what it means to be a citizen if multicultural Britain.

Other opportunities for religious expression include the attendance of Year 6 at the Canterbury Cathedral schools day and involvement in Remembrance Day. Pupils plan an act of remembrance in our local church, where they lay crosses on the graves.

We promote the children’s social, moral, spiritual and cultural development through RE lessons and across the broad curriculum Kingsnorth offers. Our most recent  Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) inspection judged our provision of RE to be ‘outstanding’.