At St Aidan’s VC Primary School, Religious Education (RE) is a highly valued and integral part of the curriculum. We follow the Jigsaw RE programme (formerly known as Discovery RE) and use the model curriculum map outlined below.
At St Aidan’s VC Primary School, Religious Education (RE) is a highly valued and integral part of the curriculum. We follow the Jigsaw RE programme (formerly known as Discovery RE) and use the model curriculum map outlined below.
Our RE curriculum is carefully designed to develop pupils’ religious literacy through effective curriculum planning and high-quality teaching. Assessment plays a vital role in supporting teaching and learning, ensuring that all pupils can access lessons, participate fully, and make expected progress.
We aim for children to become religiously literate, enabling them to:
We also strive to inspire courage in our pupils, encouraging them to become passionate advocates for causes that hold personal or global significance.
Each RE unit follows a structured enquiry approach:
Events such as Remembrance, other religious festivals as well as regular visits to our local church ensure that pupils can enjoy first-hand experiences of religious practice.
Enrichment opportunities, such as Remembrance events, celebrations of religious festivals, and regular visits to our local church, provide pupils with valuable first-hand experiences of religious practice.
RE enables pupils to explore the similarities and differences between major world religions, promoting respect for diverse worldviews and supporting the holistic development of each child. This broad understanding helps pupils appreciate how faith shapes cultures, identities, and communities.
Through learning about different religions and worldviews, pupils develop respect for diversity and an understanding of the importance of tolerance and acceptance. RE lessons provide a safe environment in which to ask questions, express curiosity, and reflect on personal beliefs while building respect for others.
Pupils are also encouraged to reflect on their own values and beliefs, helping them to develop a strong moral compass. This reflective process supports personal growth and encourages pupils to consider their place in the world and their responsibilities toward others, in line with our school vision: “but now we are many members, yet but one body.”
A balanced RE curriculum incorporates theology, philosophy, and human/social sciences, equipping pupils with the knowledge and skills needed to engage in informed discussions about religion and belief, and fostering true religious literacy.
At St Aidan’s, we also use the characters Theo, Philly, and Sami to support and enrich our discussions.
| Theology=Believing | Philosophy= Thinking | Human/Social Science = Living |
| The different ways of believing and the sources of authority they draw from. | The different ways of reasoning about God/human begins and/or the world. | The different ways in which context affects ways of living. |

