RE at Hope Community School
As with all learning and life experiences at our school, we aim to provide an RE curriculum which embodies our core values of creativity, adventure, openness and excellence. Religious Education is an important part of developing children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
We promote an environment where all children feel known, accepted, and valued as individuals, within a caring community. We work with the children to enable them to express their own ideas, ask questions, reflect on their own beliefs and respond to what they discover.
We believe that it is fundamental for the children to belong to a safe and nurturing community, founded on strong Christian values where children will develop an array of skills that will enable them to make their own positive contribution to our global society. Whilst we are a school with Christian designation, we ensure that pupils learn about six recognised worldviews (Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh and Buddhist) and also explore the secular world view through real life and classroom experiences using the local syllabus in EYFS and from Year One and beyond, the Kapow curriculum.
Our aims for all the children in RE are:
- To provoke challenging questions about the ultimate meaning of life, beliefs about God, the nature of reality and morality.
- To develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity, other principal world religions, religious traditions and world-views, which offer answers to ultimate questions.
- To encourage pupils to develop their sense of identity and belonging, in order to flourish within communities, as responsible citizens in society and global communities.
- To teach pupils to develop respect for others and their beliefs and help to challenge prejudice.
- To prompt pupils to consider their responsibilities to themselves and to others, and to explore how they might contribute to their communities and to wider society encouraging empathy, generosity and compassion.
One of the classroom prayer spaces
Parental Withdrawal from RE
While we believe it is essential for children to learn about different religions in order to enhance their understanding and tolerance for those with beliefs different to their own, it is the parent/carer's right to withdraw their child, wholly or partly, from:
- Receiving religious education (RE) given in the school in accordance with the school’s basic curriculum
- Attendance at religious worship in the school (note: sixth-form pupils can choose for themselves to opt out of religious worship)
This is set out in section 71(1) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.
If you would like to withdraw your child from RE lessons or acts of worship, please contact the Principal via the school office.