RE

When teaching Religious Education at Topcliffe we follow the Kapow Religion and World Views Curriculum and link this with the Local Authority Birmingham Agreed Syllabus. 

Through the teaching and learning of RE and Collective Worship we aim to ensure children are taught to:

★ A. Know about and understand a range of religions and worldviews, so that they can:

 •describe, explain and analyse beliefs and practices, recognising the diversity which exists within and between communities and amongst individuals;

• identify, investigate and respond to questions posed, and responses offered by some of the sources of wisdom found in religions and worldviews;

• appreciate and appraise the nature, significance and impact of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning.

★ B. Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and worldviews, so that they can:

• explain reasonably their ideas about how beliefs, practices and forms of expression influence individuals and communities;

• express with increasing discernment their personal reflections and critical responses to questions and teachings about identity, diversity, meaning and value, including ethical issues;

• appreciate and appraise varied dimensions of religion or a worldview and compare

these to their own faith or beliefs.

★ C. Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and worldviews, so that they can:

• find out about and investigate key concepts and questions of belonging, meaning, purpose and truth, responding creatively;

• enquire into what enables different individuals and communities to live together respectfully for the wellbeing of all and prepare them for life as citizens in Modern Britain;

• articulate beliefs, values and commitments clearly in order to explain why they may be important in their own and other people’s lives.

While Christianity is to form the basis of religious studies used in our curriculum children will also be given opportunities to learn about other faiths; Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism and Judaism as suggested by the Birmingham Agreed Syllabus as well as non-religious worldviews - for example - humanist.

Our curriculum includes the nine religious traditions recorded to have significant representation within Birmingham: Bahá’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Rastafari and Sikhism, and established non-religious world views such as Atheism and Humanism.

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• The use of this curriculum alongside the locally agreed syllabus will ensure a Religious Education for our children that complies with the legal requirements.​

At Topcliffe we aim to create kind, caring and empathetic learners through our teaching of RE. By teaching about different beliefs and faiths we aim to promote healthy discussions and debate in order the deepen children’s understanding of themselves, their peers and the world around them. Through cultural days, visits to places of worship and celebrations; links are made throughout the curriculum to celebrate the diversity within our local areas and the city of Birmingham.

Our children enjoy learning about other religions and why people choose or choose not to follow a religion. RE acts as a hub, between social aspects of learning. It not only supports children’s knowledge and understanding but it helps them to appreciate differences around them. Through RE children develop an understanding of other people’s cultures and ways of life, which they are then able to communicate to the wider community. RE offers our children the means by which to understand how other people choose to live and to understand why they choose to live in that way. RE is invaluable in an ever changing and diverse world.