Religious Education (RE)

Religious Education at Eden Park

At Eden Park, our Religious Education (RE) curriculum encourages children to explore what people believe and how those beliefs influence the way they live. Rooted in our School Values, we celebrate diversity, encourage curiosity, and create space for thoughtful questioning and discovery.

Our aim is to help children develop the knowledge, understanding, and skills they need to engage meaningfully with a wide range of religious and non-religious worldviews. Through rich dialogue and exploration of traditions both in the UK and globally, we challenge students intellectually while nurturing empathy and respect. By reflecting on their own beliefs and ways of life, as well as considering those of others, children begin to replace the narrative of ‘otherness’ with one of shared humanity and togetherness.

The curriculum is guided by the Devon Agreed Syllabus, adapted to fit within our wider educational approach. It is strongly supported by personal development programmes that reinforce students’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural growth. Our RE teaching is built on both substantive knowledge of world religions and disciplinary approaches—encouraging pupils to make sense of beliefs, explore their impact, and draw meaningful connections.

Students are supported in developing their own lenses for viewing the world and are encouraged to consider how their perspectives shape their understanding. Each faith is studied in depth and revisited through connected units, ensuring that by the end of Primary school, pupils leave with a broad and coherent understanding of global beliefs.

Real-life experiences—such as visits, guest speakers, and open discussions—bring learning to life and ensure RE holds a valued place within our whole-school curriculum. Through this approach, we aim to inspire children to become thoughtful, informed, and compassionate citizens in an increasingly diverse world.

‍

Religious Education in the Early Years (EYFS)

Children begin to develop an awareness of their family, pets, and close relationships, while also forming their first friendships. They recognise that others may have different interests and show sensitivity to these differences. They start to understand what makes them unique and notice both similarities and differences with others.

Through pretend play, they reflect familiar family and cultural routines, such as making tea or visiting the barber. They enjoy taking part in family customs and daily routines, deepening their connection to their background and identity, reflecting their observations and understanding of the world around them.

As their understanding of the wider world grows, children begin to recognise and talk about special events for family and friends. They show interest in different ways of life and begin to understand the similarities and differences between religious and cultural communities, including practices like visiting places of worship, helping them build respect and curiosity about the world around them.

‍

Religious Education in KS1

In Key Stage 1, children are encouraged to think, talk, and ask questions about living in an amazing and diverse world. They learn to give a simple account of the story of Jesus’ birth and understand why Jesus is important to Christians. They explore how Christians express their beliefs about Jesus’ death and resurrection through Easter worship. Children also learn how Muslims put their beliefs into action through practices like prayer. They discuss what makes certain places special to people and consider the differences between religious and non-religious special places. Additionally, they reflect on what they value about being part of a community, including faith communities, and explain their ideas with clear reasoning.

‍

Religious Education in KS2

By the end of Years 3 and 4, children will be able to recognise what a Gospel is and give examples of the kinds of stories it contains. They will make links between the importance of love in the Bible stories studied and how this value applies to life today, offering thoughtful reasons for their ideas. They will raise and respond to questions about why Christians call the day Jesus died ‘Good Friday’, showing awareness of different viewpoints. Additionally, they will be able to identify some of the different ways Hindus worship.

By the end of Years 5 and 6, children will make clear connections between Christian beliefs about Jesus’ death as a sacrifice and how this is reflected in Christian celebrations. They will relate the Christian concept of the 'Kingdom of God'—including loving others and serving those in need—to real-world issues and opportunities. They will describe how Muslim sources of authority guide daily life and make connections between the beliefs they’ve studied and how Muslims live in contemporary Britain, including in Devon and Torbay. Children will also identify and explain beliefs about human nature—why people are considered good or bad—and provide examples of differing Christian views about the nature of God. Furthermore, they will compare beliefs about life after death in at least two religious traditions, noting both similarities and differences.

Enriching Religious Education (R.E)

At Eden Park Primary and Nursery School, Religious Education is enriched through immersive, real-world experiences that bring learning to life. Children engage in activities such as visiting places of worship, participating in discussions with guest speakers from diverse faith backgrounds, and exploring cultural traditions through festivals and storytelling.These opportunities encourage pupils to reflect on their own beliefs while developing empathy and respect for others. By integrating these experiences into the curriculum, Eden Park fosters a deeper understanding of global beliefs and promotes a sense of shared humanity among students. This approach ensures that Religious Education is not only informative but also transformative, preparing children to be thoughtful and compassionate citizens in an increasingly diverse world.