19 January 2010 - RE Information

Religious Education

Religious Education incorporates learning about religion and learning from religion, using the concepts of belief, worship, deity, authority and commitment as ways to aid understanding. Studying religion involves exploring religious practices and lifestyles, gaining knowledge and understanding of religious beliefs and teachings and ways of expressing meaning. Reflection on religion involves reflecting on religious ideas and perceptions and how they may relate to personal understanding and life experience, and the skill of asking and responding to questions of identity, meaning, purpose, values and commitment.

We believe that the content of Religious Education should "reflect the fact that the religious traditions of Great Britain are in the main Christian, but must also include teaching from the other principal world religious represented in Great Britain". (Education Reform Act, 1988)

We acknowledge the need to comply with the legal requirements concerning the inclusion of R.E. in the school curriculum and therefore we follow the legally adopted syllabus for Durham County Education Authority, which is the statutory order for Religious Education in County Durham. Our schemes of work reflect our philosophy and meet the requirements of the Durham Agreed Syllabus.

RIGHTS OF WITHDRAWAL

Under the terms of the 1988 Education Reform Act parents have the right to withdraw their children from the teaching of Religious Education. This withdrawal may be wholly or partly, depending upon parental request.

The school will comply with the request, recognising that no reason needs to be given. However, parents should be made aware that although Christianity, Buddhism and Judaism are used to teach about R.E., teaching is non-denominational and is not designed to convert pupils or to urge a particular religion or religious belief on pupils. However, we do recognise the need to establish with any parent wanting to exercise the right of withdrawal a working understanding about the religious issues about which the parent would object to their child being taught, either directly or indirectly. We would aim to ensure that the parent appreciated the practical implications of withdrawal, and the circumstances in which the school can reasonably be expected to accommodate parental wishes.

Owing to the nature of the Primary Curriculum, there may be circumstances where questions of a religious nature arise, not specifically in Religious Education. Parents should be aware of this and realise that in such cases it is impossible to withdraw children.