At St White's Primary School, Religious Education (RE) is an important part of our curriculum. It helps children understand themselves, understand others and appreciate the diverse world we live in. Our RE teaching follows the Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus (2025-2030), which focuses on exploring both religious and non-religious worldviews. Children learn about how different people make sense of life, what matters to them and how beliefs influence the way people live.
Our Approach to RE
We follow a Religion and Worldviews approach, which means the following:
- Children learn about a range of traditions, including Christianity, Hindu traditions, Islam, Judaism and Humanism.
- Learning is rooted in real people's experiences - not stereotypes or simplified "packages" of belief.
- Children explore big questions about meaning, purpose and values.
- We help pupils reflect on their own developing worldview and understand that everyone brings their own experiences to learning.
This approach supports pupils to think deeply, ask thoughtful questions, listen respectfully and form their own reasoned opinions.
The School makes provision for daily acts of collective worship.
Handbook for Curriculum Writers 2024.
understand in deepening ways through their RE lessons.
The engagement strand (gold) is about how the pupils encounter the worldviews studied.
The position strand (green) is about the pupils’ growing awareness of how their own personal
worldviews play a role in their learning and living.
Always Learning in RE
Our vision and values guide everything we do at St White's. RE strengthens these values by showing children how to engage thoughtfully and confidently with beliefs, ideas and perspectives that may be new to them.
Greet any challenge with a can‑do attitude
RE often involves big ideas and deep questions. Children learn to approach unfamiliar concepts—such as different traditions, festivals, or moral decisions—with confidence, curiosity and an open mind. They discover that they can understand complex ideas when they persevere.
Take responsibility and commit
In RE, children learn to take responsibility for their ideas, their learning and their behaviour in discussion. They commit to listening carefully, researching thoroughly and forming responses based on evidence and thoughtful reasoning.
Communicate clearly as we conquer
RE provides many opportunities for speaking, listening and explaining ideas. Children learn to express themselves clearly and respectfully as they explore different worldviews. They also practise asking insightful questions, sharing viewpoints calmly and participating in meaningful dialogue.
Reflect and celebrate
Reflection is a key part of RE. Pupils think about what they have learned, how their ideas may have changed, and how different worldviews can enrich their understanding of life. They also celebrate the diversity of beliefs and traditions around them, recognising what makes each unique and what unites us as people.
These values help pupils become thoughtful, respectful learners who enjoy discovering more about the world and the people in it.
What Children Gain from RE at St White's
By the time they leave St White's, children will be able to do a number of things:
- Understand a range of worldviews and how they influence people's lives.
- Recognise diversity within belief systems.
- Ask thoughtful questions and think for themselves.
- Show empathy and respect for others.
- Communicate their ideas clearly and confidently.
- Have a deeper understanding of their own beliefs and values.
RE at St White's supports children to become curious, considerate and confident citizens, ready to play a positive role in our diverse society.