At Bentfield Primary School we use the Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education developed by Essex (SACRE- Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education) as the basis for our curriculum. While we focus on the major world religions and those predominantly represented in Great Britain: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism, in line with the Agreed Syllabus, we also take into account that religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian and so ensure that as a whole and at each key stage the relative content devoted to Christianity predominates. RE also plays a central role in promoting British Values and is used as a tool to introduce and teach the concepts of citizenship, respect and tolerance as well as supporting pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. 

Purpose of study

High-quality RE will support pupils’ religious literacy. In the context of this syllabus, being religiously literate means that pupils will have the ability to hold balanced and well-informed conversations about religion and worldviews. Pupils will be able to make sense of religion and worldviews around them and begin to understand the complex world in which they live. RE is primarily about enabling pupils to become free thinking, critical participants of public discourse, who can make academically informed judgements about important matters of religion and belief which shape the global landscape.

Aims

The RE curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Know about and understand a range of religious and non-religious worldviews by learning to see these through theological, philosophical and human/social science lenses.
• Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religious and non-religious worldviews through a multidisciplinary approach.
• Gain and deploy skills rooted in theology, philosophy and the human/social sciences engaging critically with religious and non-religious worldviews.

For further information, please see the following documents:

The Right of Withdrawal from Religious Education:

Religion and belief have become more visible in public life in recent years, making it important that all pupils should have an opportunity to engage in RE. However, the parent of a pupil at a community, foundation or voluntary school (or pupils themselves if they are aged 18 or over) may request that they be excused from all or part of the religious education (RE) provided. 

Parents who wish to withdraw their children from RE should be aware of its aims and what is covered in the RE curriculum and that they are given the opportunity to discuss this if they wish. It should be made clear whether the withdrawal is from the whole RE curriculum or specific parts of it. No reasons need be given.

Important - limitations to withdraw:

• If pupils are withdrawn from RE, schools have a duty to supervise them, though not to provide additional teaching. A pupil may be required to work in another area of the school, such as library or quiet room. 
• Whilst parents or carers have a right to withdraw children from RE, they should note that children may also encounter religions and beliefs and wider aspects of faith in other areas of the curriculum from which there is no right of withdrawal.
• On occasion, spontaneous questions about religious matters are raised by pupils or issues related to religion arise in other curriculum subjects such as history or citizenship (PSHE). For example, schools promote community cohesion and help pupils to understand ideas about identity and diversity, feelings and emotions within both religious and non-religious contexts. 

Managing the Right of Withdrawal:  

If pupils are withdrawn from RE, schools have a duty to supervise them, though not to provide additional teaching or to incur extra cost. Pupils will usually remain on school premises where it is feasible and appropriate.

Where a request for withdrawal is made, the school must comply and excuse the pupil until the request is rescinded. Though not legally required, it is good practice for a head teacher to invite parents to discuss their written request.

(Section 71(3), School Standards and Framework Act 1998).