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The Oaktree School

Inspire, Learn, Achieve

Religious Education

At The Oaktree School children are encouraged to investigate and reflect on some of the most fundamental questions asked by people.  To enable them to do this we intend to teach children to develop their knowledge and understanding of different faiths; Christianity, Judaism and Islam. We encourage our children to reflect on what it means to have a faith and to develop their own spiritual knowledge and understanding.

Children are encouraged to identify similarities in the features of different religions and beliefs. They retell religious, spiritual and moral stories and begin to identify possible meanings for these stories.  They investigate and explore the meaning of religious symbols and other forms of religious expression.  Finally, through research and questioning the children will begin to identify how religion and belief is expressed in different ways.

We teach children to respond sensitively and imaginatively to questions about their own and others' ideas, experiences and feelings, ask questions about their own and others’ ideas, feelings and experience, give a reason why something may be valued by themselves and others and recognise that some questions about life are difficult to answer. 

Religious Education is a part of a broad and balanced curriculum. All pupils receive RE in accordance with the Surrey Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (2017-2022). The Syllabus can be viewed here.

Lessons are delivered with a skills focused approach, which encourages enquiry and reflection.

RE skills:

  • Thinking about religion and belief.
  • Enquiring, investigating and interpreting.
  • Beliefs and teachings.
  • Practices and lifestyles.
  • Expression and language.
  • Identity and experience.
  • Meaning and purpose.
  • Values and commitments.

Collective worship, often known as an assembly or reflection time, is part of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

We expect all pupils to experience the full breadth of our curriculum, but should parents or carers wish to exercise the right of withdrawal for all or part of RE, they should consult the Executive Headteacher.