RE

Intent

At Harpole Primary School, our goal is for every child to leave us with a lifelong love of learning and the skills they need to thrive both academically and personally. We want our pupils to be independent, resilient thinkers who are ready to adapt to change and face challenges with confidence.

Through exploring Christian teachings, our pupils reflect on their own spirituality and values. They learn to communicate effectively, act responsibly within their communities, and develop a strong sense of belonging. Our vision is grounded in Christian values that guide everything we do:

  • Respect for everyone
  • Responsibility in making the most of every opportunity
  • Perseverance and Courage in facing challenges
  • Forgiveness and Compassion in supporting one another

Together, these values prepare our children for "life in all its fullness."

Implementation

At Harpole, pupils learn about a wide range of religions and worldviews through rich, varied experiences. Our RE curriculum (Natre) is designed to be revisited and built upon throughout a child’s time at school to deepen understanding.

Children explore religion through engaging, hands-on activities such as:

  • Handling religious artefacts
  • Exploring sacred texts
  • Using drama and role play to express ideas
  • Responding to art, music, stories, and dance
  • Meeting visitors from faith communities
  • Visiting places of worship
  • Taking part in whole-school events like Harvest and multi-faith days
  • Moments of quiet reflection
  • Using technology to explore global religions
  • Comparing beliefs and discussing big questions

This approach ensures that children experience RE in meaningful, thought-provoking ways.

Curriculum Planning and Progression

RE planning follows clear guidance for each key stage:

  • Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS): 30 hours of teacher-led RE activities
  • Key Stage 1: Christianity and at least one other religion, with a minimum of 36 hours taught
  • Key Stage 2: Christianity and five additional world religions

This structure ensures broad, balanced, and progressive learning.

Impact

We want every child to leave Harpole with a deep understanding of the religions they’ve studied and the ability to reflect on and evaluate different beliefs.

To monitor progress, we use:

  • Progressive RE curriculum statements
  • Book looks and learning walks
  • Pupil voice and teacher feedback
  • Floor books and exercise books

Our subject leader tracks children’s development across the school, helping to identify and close any gaps in learning to ensure all children make strong progress in RE.