Religious Education
Religion and worldviews- intent
At Bridgewater Park, our Religion and Worldviews curriculum aims to develop deep thinkers who are open-minded about religion and worldviews. Our curriculum is designed to be relevant to pupils, reflecting and preparing them for life in modern Britain. Through the Kapow Primary Religion and Worldviews scheme, children will secure a deep understanding of concepts, enabling them to make connections, ask and respond to challenging questions, and learn to respect and appreciate worldviews different from their own. We aim to encourage pupils to consider their personal preconceptions, responses, and views.
Children will build their conceptual knowledge by studying religions and worldviews locally, nationally, and globally. This progressive curriculum enables them to make links and connections between worldviews, develop disciplinary skills, and understand their positionality in relation to their learning. By revisiting key ‘big questions’ and building on prior knowledge, pupils will learn about how religion and worldviews are lived experiences across the world, consider the impact of worldviews on society, and have opportunities to reflect on their personal worldviews.
The Kapow Primary Religion and Worldviews scheme of work enables pupils to meet government guidance, which states that RE must reflect that ‘the religious traditions in Great Britain are, in the main, Christian while taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain’. Our scheme is designed to fulfil the aims of A Curriculum Framework for Religious Education in England.
Religion and worldviews- implementation
The implementation of our curriculum translates our intent into a progressive and effective learning experience. The Kapow Primary Religion and Worldviews scheme reflects the findings of the Ofsted Research Review Series: Religious Education (May 2021), incorporating three strands: Substantive Knowledge (conceptual and worldviews related), Disciplinary Knowledge, and Personal Knowledge. These strands are interwoven across all units to build children’s conceptual knowledge and understanding of religion and worldviews, using a range of disciplinary lenses. Children are equipped to explore and express their preconceptions, personal worldviews, and positionality through varied and engaging learning experiences.
The Kapow Primary Religion and Worldviews scheme follows a spiral curriculum model, where units and lessons are carefully sequenced to revisit and build upon previous conceptual knowledge. Children progress by developing and deepening their understanding of substantive and disciplinary concepts through a range of contexts. This progression is detailed in the Religion and Worldviews: Progression of Knowledge and Skills.
In Key Stage 1, children develop their awareness of religion and worldviews by focusing on conceptual knowledge through the study of a limited range of religions and worldviews represented in the UK, including Christianity. This foundation supports their learning in Key Stage 2, where they encounter a greater range of religions and worldviews and consider the diverse nature of religious and non-religious lived experiences.
Each unit includes overarching ‘big questions’ that are revisited throughout Key Stage 1, lower Key Stage 2, and upper Key Stage 2, allowing children to apply their learning across various concepts. These ‘big questions’ include:
- Why are we here?
- Why do worldviews change?
- What is religion?
- How can worldviews be expressed?
- How do worldviews affect our daily lives?
- How can we live together in harmony if we have different worldviews?
A more specific, focused enquiry question frames the learning across each unit, enabling children to explore the content, make comparisons and links within and across religions and worldviews, and reflect on their personal views.
Lessons are designed to be varied, engaging, and hands-on, allowing children to learn and record their thoughts, answers, and ideas in various ways. Each lesson involves activities that develop their knowledge and understanding of diverse religions and worldviews. Guidance for adapting the learning ensures that all pupils can access lessons, with opportunities to stretch learning when required. Knowledge organisers support pupils in developing conceptual knowledge by summarising key concepts and linking them to examples covered.
Strong subject knowledge is vital for delivering a highly effective and robust Religion and Worldviews curriculum. Each unit focuses on the key subject knowledge needed, making links with prior learning and identifying possible misconceptions. Kapow provides extensive support to ensure teachers feel confident in delivering high-quality lessons. The curriculum also emphasizes the importance of respectful discussions and sensitive responses to controversial or sensitive issues, with teacher CPD resources offering guidance on facilitating such discussions.
The Kapow Primary Religion and Worldviews curriculum highlights diverse representations within and across religions and worldviews, focusing on real people's lived experiences of their beliefs.
Religion and worldviews- impact
The impact of the Kapow Primary Religion and Worldviews scheme is continuously monitored through both formative and summative assessment opportunities. Each lesson includes guidance to support teachers in assessing pupils against the learning objectives. Additionally, each unit features a unit quiz and a knowledge catcher, which can be used at the end of the unit to provide a summative assessment.
Following the implementation of the Kapow Primary Religion and Worldviews curriculum, pupils will be equipped with a range of disciplinary skills and knowledge to enable them to succeed in their secondary education. They will be prepared for life in modern Britain, capable of interacting with others from different religious and non-religious viewpoints in a respectful, knowledgeable, and open-minded manner. Our pupils will become curious learners who ask questions and make connections, confident in exploring their personal worldviews and possessing the skills to appreciate, evaluate, and respond to religious, philosophical, and ethical questions.
The expected impact of following the Kapow Primary Religion and Worldviews scheme of work includes:
- Meeting the relevant end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 requirements from the Curriculum Framework for Religious Education for England.
- Knowing and understanding religious concepts relating to beliefs, practices, community and belonging, and wisdom and guidance.
- Developing an understanding of the influence of organized and personal worldviews on individuals, communities, countries, and globally.
- Understanding some of the ways religions and worldviews are studied (disciplinary knowledge).
- Developing an understanding of their relationship with the content studied, being able to talk about their assumptions and preconceptions (personal knowledge).
- Building a secure vocabulary that allows them to talk confidently and fluently about their learning.
- Answering questions about worldviews through an enquiry-based approach, including investigating, interpreting, evaluating, applying, and expressing.
- Talking about the similarities and differences between their own and others’ beliefs with respect and open-mindedness.
- Understanding that the lived experiences of religious and non-religious worldviews are diverse within and between people and communities.
- Developing an understanding of the ways in which personal and organized worldviews may develop and change across time and place.
Through this comprehensive approach, our pupils will be well-prepared to navigate and contribute positively to a diverse and interconnected world.
