Religious Education
As a Church of England School, this is a core subject. We follow the Southwark Diocese Board of Education Units of Work. These include 2/3 of units focused on Christianity and 1/3 on other major World Religions.
We aim to help children to understand what it means to be committed to a religion and in particular what it means to be a Christian. We expect them to be able to discuss issues of faith and to show respect for the beliefs of others. Collective worship is a high priority. It is the means by which we offer the life of the school and individuals to God, as well as explore the meaning of faith in ways which children can grasp.
Parents and carers can withdraw their child from any/all RE lessons. Please speak to the class teacher about this in the first instance.
In February 2023 the school were again awarded the Gold Religious Education Quality Mark and in June 2019 Religious Education at St Mary’s was rated as Excellent as part of our SIAMS inspection.
Click below to learn about our Religious Education Curriculum Intent, Implementation and Impact:
Intent
At St Mary’s, Religious Education reflects our Christian vision and the Church of England’s aim to be deeply Christian while serving the common good. RE is designed to develop pupils’ religious and theological literacy through the three Golden Threads: believing, thinking, and living. Pupils gain a secure understanding of Christianity and the Anglican tradition, alongside meaningful learning about other world religions and non-religious views. The curriculum is inclusive by design. It ensures that all pupils, regardless of starting point, are supported to explore big questions of faith, meaning, and purpose, reflect on their own values, and develop respect, empathy and understanding for others.
Implementation
At St Mary’s, we follow the Southwark Diocesan Religious Education syllabus which is supported by high-quality resources including Understanding Christianity, diocesan planning and Walk Through the Bible. Over time, learning builds progressively and has a focus on securing knowledge through regular review of prior learning. Across the curriculum, a clear balance of two-thirds Christianity and one-third other religions is maintained.
Within lessons, learning is structured around the Golden Threads, using retrieval practice, explicit vocabulary teaching, high-quality talk, reflection and opportunities for deeper thinking. Teaching is adapted to meet the needs of all pupils so that they are all challenged. Beyond the classroom, enrichment through visits to places of worship and strong links with St Mary’s Church ensure learning is grounded in real-life faith and community experiences.
Impact
Over time, pupils make clear progress in their understanding of belief, meaning, and the impact of faith on people’s lives. Within lessons, they are able to agree and disagree respectfully, listen carefully to others, and express their own views with confidence and sensitivity. Pupils thoughtfully ponder theological and philosophical questions and can explain how beliefs influence the way people live and engage with the world around them.
Assessment and monitoring show secure progression across the Golden Threads, with disadvantaged pupils achieving well and higher attainers demonstrating depth of understanding. As a result, pupils develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for the next stage of education and life in a diverse society.