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Religious Education

In this section you will find guidance and resources related to support the planning and delivery of RE in church schools

The importance of RE

RE provokes challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong, and what it means to be human. It develops students’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity, other principal religions, other religious traditions, and other worldviews that offer answers to these challenging questions. It offers opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development. It enhances students’ awareness and understanding of religions and beliefs, teachings, practices and forms of expression, as well as of the influence of religion on individuals, families, communities and cultures. RE encourages students to learn from different religions, beliefs, values and traditions, while exploring their own beliefs and questions of meaning. It challenges students to reflect on, consider, analyse, interpret and evaluate issues of truth, belief, faith and ethics and to communicate their responses. (QCDA statement on the importance of RE)

Church of England voluntary controlled Schools follow the Local Agreed Syllabus for RE

In Church of England voluntary aided schools, religious education should also reflect and be consistent with the distinctive values of the school’s Christian foundation and schools should follow the Diocesan Syllabus (downloadable from this page).

Diocese of York Key Recommendations for RE in Church Schools

• Governors in Voluntary Aided schools adopt the York Diocesan Guidelines for RE.
• Governors in Voluntary Controlled schools adopt the locally agreed syllabus for RE as required by law, taking account of the recommendations in this guidance to make the religious education distinctively Anglican.
• All Church of England schools in the Diocese of York should ensure that:
• Standards of teaching, learning and achievement in RE are at the highest level;
• At least 5% of curriculum time is devoted to RE;
• Christianity has a central role in the RE curriculum;
• Appropriate teaching about other faiths and world views is given;
• All pupils take an accreditation in Religious Studies at the end of Key Stage 4;
• All A level students have the opportunity to take a Religious Studies qualification

Primary School resources

The Council for Subject Associations (CfSA) has lots of ideas and resources for RE in the primary curriculum They have also been working with eleven subject associations, drawing together their subject expertise, to identify a range of resources for teachers to use in the classroom, which increase their confidence, knowledge and understanding within the context of promoting community cohesion.

Secondary School resources

The National Society has published guidance for RE in Secondary Church schools.

Cross phase resources

The NATRE website provides resources and guidance for all aspects of RE and there are links to the children talking database and spirited arts website.

RE Online is a useful starting point for finding resources and guidance for RE at all phases

Places of Worship is a useful website supporting visits to places of worship

Engaging places is a resource to support teaching and learning through places and buildings in all aspects of the curriculum including RE

Below, you can download examples of RE in primary and secondary schools in the Diocese.