At Norfolk Community Primary School, we deliver a high-quality, inquiry-based Religious Education (RE) curriculum developed in conjunction with NATRE (National Association of Teachers of Religious Education). We believe it is vital that all pupils learn about religion and learn from religion. This enables our children to develop informed, empathetic judgments about moral and ethical issues, explore their own beliefs and sense of identity, and gain a profound insight into the diverse world in which they live.
RE plays a vital role in helping our children understand their identity as members of our local community, giving them the self-confidence and knowledge to celebrate global diversity. Our curriculum enables them to have real-life experiences of different places of worship, communicate directly with religious leaders, and engage respectfully with people of different viewpoints.
Through our teaching, we aim to equip pupils with the knowledge and understanding to:
Explore a range of religions and non-religious worldviews in local, national, and global contexts.
Recognise practices and places associated with worship, prayer, and celebration, and how they are influenced by beliefs and values.
Understand that belonging to a faith community provides guidance for everyday living and builds a sense of identity in a diverse society.
Interpret the meanings of stories, religious texts, and sources of wisdom, exploring their implications for followers today.
Consider how different religious and non-religious worldviews respond to ideas about God, and the different ways science and religions handle questions of origins.
Develop critical thinking and dialogue skills, reflecting thoughtfully on the similarities and differences between diverse beliefs and practices.
As our pupils grow, they develop the academic and reflective skills of young theologians. Our curriculum ensures that Norfolk theologians learn to:
Understand diverse beliefs and practices: Recall and describe the features of religious and non-religious worldviews, recognizing the diversity that exists within and between communities, including festivals, worship, and rituals.
Interpret sources of wisdom: Investigate, retell, and suggest meanings for religious and moral stories, sacred writings, and symbols, understanding how these express a community's way of life.
Evaluate the impact of faith: Ask and respond to questions about what communities do and why, explaining how beliefs, practices, and forms of expression influence individuals and their daily lives.
Reflect on "big questions": Investigate key concepts of belonging, meaning, and truth, expressing personal reflections and critical responses creatively through words, music, art, or drama.
Promote respect and community cohesion: Enquire into what enables different communities to live together respectfully. Linking directly to our Rights Respecting Schools commitment, pupils explore how diverse groups cooperate for the wellbeing of all.
Articulate personal values and ethics: Discuss ethical questions of right and wrong, just and fair, explaining their own beliefs and commitments while responding sensitively to the views of others.
The following outline, adapted from our cohesive planning framework RE Overview 25-26 new.docx, demonstrates the thematic questions and specific inquiries studied across Key Stages 1 and 2:
In KS1, our young theologians build a foundational understanding of sacred stories, symbols, and what it means to belong to a community of faith. Pupils primarily focus on Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, exploring core questions through practical, hands-on experiences:
Thematic Inquiries: Pupils ask what Christians believe God is like, explore who Christians say made the world, and learn about the daily lives, celebrations, and places of worship of Jewish and Muslim families.
Enrichment & Trips: Learning is brought to life with a local church trip, a focused 1-day immersive Easter study, interactive visitors, and exploring physical artifacts that represent sacred spaces.
In KS2, pupils deepen their theological enquiry, moving from describing traditions to critically comparing and analyzing how beliefs impact actions. Pupils study Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and non-religious worldviews (such as Humanism):
Thematic Inquiries: Pupils tackle complex comparative topics, including how festivals and family life show what matters to Jewish and Hindu people, how different groups try to make the world a better place, and how diverse traditions mark the significant milestones of life.
Big Questions: In upper Key Stage 2, pupils engage in sophisticated debates, comparing creation and science (conflicting or complementary?), exploring why people do or do not believe in God, and examining how faith helps people cope when life gets hard.
Enrichment & Trips: Learning is supported by specialized reading sessions, a local mosque trip, a temple trip to explore Hinduism in Britain today, and interactive visits to compare Christian and Humanist viewpoints.
At Norfolk Community Primary School, we deliver a curriculum that is ambitious and carefully designed to give all learners—particularly our most vulnerable, disadvantaged, and those with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)—the support they need to succeed.
To ensure that every child participates fully in the rich experiences of RE, we prioritize:
Quality First Teaching: Using visual and practical prompts to scaffold and chunk learning.
Alternative Recording Methods: Allowing children to express their understanding through spoken words, roleplay, annotating digital media, or drawing.
Tangible Experiences: Using real religious artifacts (handling boxes) to bring abstract beliefs and traditions to life, making lessons memorable, tactile, and sensory.
Real-World Encounters: Facilitating interactive experiences, such as visiting local places of worship, hosting guest speakers from religious and humanist backgrounds, and taking interactive virtual tours.
In the Foundation Stage (FS1 & FS2), our youngest learners begin their journey by exploring their immediate community, learning about the people around them, and discovering the world they inhabit. Alongside our PSHE curriculum, early RE plays a vital role in promoting social awareness, empathy, and mutual respect. Through guided discussions, sensory activities, and purposeful play, children learn to:
Explore Traditions and Festivals: Talk about special times, celebrations, and traditions that happen within their own families and outside of their immediate experiences.
Listen to Sacred Stories: Enjoy stories from a range of religious and ethical traditions, helping them develop a foundational understanding of kindness, sharing, and diverse values.
Ask and Answer Questions: Inquire freely about similarities and differences in the way people celebrate, live, and look after one another, building a welcoming environment.
Develop Early Social Awareness: Practice high expectations of behavior, follow our school's core values, and show curiosity, debate, and independent thinking through guided play.
Our Goal: Every child leaves Norfolk Community Primary School with an open mind, a deep respect for others, and the critical thinking skills required to participate actively, thoughtfully, and harmoniously in modern, multi-faith Britain.