Recognising its historic foundation, Salesbury Church of England Primary School will preserve and develop it religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with St. Peter’s Church, Salesbury and Blackburn Diocese.

The school aims to serve its community by providing an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian beliefs and practice.  Our school is distinguished by the support of its entire staff family, for its Christian foundation, promoting an understanding of Christianity and other world faiths.

Our school encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith and promotes Christian values through the experience it offers to all pupils. 

We will promote Christian values within the school as exemplified by the life and teaching of Jesus Christ.

We will recognise the children as individuals and educate them according to their rights in law, whilst providing opportunities for the children to fulfil their potential mentally, physically, socially, emotionally, aesthetically and spiritually. 

EYFS

RE should strive to build on young children’s understanding of themselves and their experiences of family life and relationships. All pupils should learn that they are personally valued from the attitudes which they encounter in school.  They should become increasingly aware of things which are special and important to themselves and other people. Children will sometimes benefit from opportunities to develop their awareness of the local environment through journeys and visits, and by having chance to experience awe and wonderment in the natural world. They should be introduced to symbolism in religion and hear stories about the lives of key figures. RE is an integral part of the topic work covered during the year.  We relate the religious education aspects of the children’s work to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals which underpin the curriculum for children aged three to five.

KS1

Children continue to build on the opportunities and experiences encountered in the Early Years. They will continue to learn about symbolism in religion and listen to varied stories from the Old and New Testament. They will be given opportunities to ask their own questions and explore ideas further. Children will visit different places of worship; making regular visits to St Peter’s Church to enhance the curriculum and learn about other world religions. Pupils will have one RE lesson each week, when the main subject from the Blackburn Diocese Scheme of Work will be followed. Many other aspects of RE will evolve and be discussed in other areas of the curriculum.  Children will begin to become more familiar with the Big Frieze and God’s Big Plan.  Resources and ideas from Understanding Christianity.

KS2

Children should be developing a greater understanding of themselves and an awareness of the needs and feelings of other people from a variety of faiths and cultures. They need opportunities to engage with the natural world and local environment. By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils should have been helped to explore a range of religious ideas and themes. They should have heard stories about the life and teaching of Jesus and other religious figures, and have been given opportunities to consider their own questions and concerns. They will give a greater theological awareness that Christianity is a global, living and diverse faith.  Children will have visited different places of worship and understand that all world faiths have similarities and differences.  Children will also develop an understanding of people who live without faith.

Scheme of Work

Our scheme of work, Questful RE, comes from Blackburn Diocese Board of Education Religious Education syllabus for Church Schools and is supported with units from the resource Understanding Christianity.  As we have mixed classes, most of our curriculum is on a two year rolling programme. 

Pupils will think theologically & explore great questions about life, death, meaning & purpose. They will reflect critically on the truth claims of Christianity and see how the truth of Christianity is relevant today, and face the challenge of Jesus’ teaching in a pluralist and post-modern society. They will develop skills to handle Bible text and will experience the breadth & variety of Christian Community. Pupils will recognise faith as a commitment to a particular way of understanding God & the world, and will respond in terms of beliefs, commitments and ways of living. Pupils will develop a sense of themselves as significant, unique and precious. They will engage in thoughtful dialogue with world faiths & traditions, becoming active citizens serving their neighbourhood. Pupils will find a reason for hope in a troubled world and understand how religious faith can sustain them in difficult circumstances & in the face of opposition. They will talk freely about their own personal beliefs and practice without fear of ridicule and will make excellent and appropriate progress in their knowledge and understanding of Christianity and world faiths. Pupils will understand world faith backgrounds and be encouraged to recognise and appreciate differences. Pupils will learn that some people have no religious background and will be given an insight into what that means. All pupils of all backgrounds to have a safe place to explore the ultimate questions and challenges of life in today’s society.