Religious Education

Essential Characteristics of religiously literate pupils

• An outstanding level of religious understanding and knowledge.
• A thorough engagement with a range of ultimate questions about the meaning of the significance of existence.
• The ability to ask significant and highly reflective questions about religion and demonstrate an excellent understanding of issues related to the nature, truth and value of religion.
• A strong understanding of how the beliefs, values practices and ways of life within any religion cohere together.
• Exceptional independence; the ability to think for themselves and take the initiative in, for example, asking questions, carrying out investigations, evaluating ideas and working constructively with others.
• Significant levels of originality, imagination or creativity, which are shown in their responses to their learning in RE.
• The ability to link the study of religion and belief to personal reflections on meaning and purpose.
• A wide knowledge and deep understanding across a wide range of religions and beliefs.

©Chris Quigley Education Ltd

It is a legal requirement for pupils to have opportunities to learn about the principal religions in the UK. All pupils are therefore entitled to receive Religious Education (RE) and it forms part of the spiritual, moral and cultural education in the school.

RE is a core subject at Great and Little Shelford. Between 5-10% of the timetabled subjects will be dedicated to RE lessons. We follow and tailor a programme called 'Understanding Christianity' to deliver two thirds of our RE teaching, with the other third dedicated to learning about other faiths. 

Pupils are encouraged to develop their own questions as well as grapple with ‘big questions’ learn from and about religion. Three main elements are explored in Understanding Christianity topics: making sense of the text; making connections; understanding the impact.