Intent

(Why we teach RE)

Our vision for our R.E curriculum is based on the national guidance issued by Walsall council in June 2021 and follows the agreed Walsall Syllabus for Religious Education 2021-2026.

Walsall is a vibrant and diverse Borough. Our population includes significant communities of Christians, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs and smaller groups of other significant faith communities including Jews, Jains, Buddhists and members of the Baha’i faith. Walsall is a culturally diverse town where people of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi background form the largest minority ethnic groups.  Many children in Walsall come from families that hold non-religious life stances. Our RE syllabus allows all learners to share their experiences and to learn from one another and the religions and beliefs in our community. 

In line with the law, Walsall’s Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education expects that schools will enable pupils to explore Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, as well as Christianity. RE makes a major contribution to pupils’ awareness, appreciation and exploration of the British Values, as required by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate. The Walsall agreed syllabus shows teachers how to connect RE in appropriate and suitable ways to the promotion of British Values and of opportunities for pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. RE is not coercive: none of the aims of RE encourage pupils to adopt or reject particular religious beliefs and practices. Instead, RE encourages all learners to be thoughtful about their own beliefs and worldviews in the light of the religions and beliefs they study. RE is not about making pupils into believers but tries to help them become literate and articulate about religions and beliefs, and to be thoughtful members of a plural society, so that in learning from religion they are able to make informed choices about how they want to live their lives whilst also understanding more about the faiths and beliefs of other people they meet. As such, it is relevant to every pupil and every citizen of Walsall.

Right of withdrawal 

This was first granted in 1944 when RE was actually religious instruction and carried with it connotations of induction into the Christian faith. RE is very different now – open, broad, exploring a range of religious and non-religious worldviews. However, in the UK, parents still have the right to withdraw their children from RE lessons and assemblies on the grounds that they wish to provide their own religious education. (School Standards and Framework Act 1998 S71 (3). This will be the parents’ responsibility. However, it is good practice to talk to parents to ensure that they understand the aims and value of RE before honouring this right. 

If you want to withdraw your child from RE lessons and assemblies we would encourage you to contact the Head of School to discuss the matter and to negotiate alternative arrangements.

If you want further information about the curriculum content your child is covering please call the school office to arrange an appointment to see the subject leader.