This policy document updates and replaces any previous policy used by the school.

The Agreed Syllabus describes the knowledge, understanding and skills contained in the programmes of study that will enable pupils to make progress. It also reflects the fact that religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian, whilst taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain. [ERA 1988]

Progress is made in the following aspects:

Learning about religions

Learning from religion

These aspects are inter-linked and should be taught keeping language, ICT and health and safety elements in mind.

Religious Education is required to be included alongside the National Curriculum as part of the basic curriculum which all maintained schools must provide for their registered pupils. RE has equal status with the core and foundation subjects of the National Curriculum. RE also contributes to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development

Here at Camden Junior school we see RE as an essential part of the curriculum but also recognise that there is a legal right for parents to withdraw their child from RE and for teachers not to teach the subject.

The school has used the agreed syllabus to develop our own scheme of work which shows the long and medium term plans, the learning outcomes and the means by which pupils work will be assessed. The QCA has provided each school with a scheme of work which this school draws on to supplement and augment its own.

Religious Education should take up about 4S hours of curriculum time per year (around 1-1.5 hours per week).

Assessment in Religious Education is in early stages of development but a variety of forms are adopted. Pupils are encouraged to self-assess their own work in terms of knowledge and outcomes. Teachers will assess pupils’ progress, performance and outcomes. The agreed syllabus provides assessment indicators which can be used at the end of each unit of work. These indicators can help teachers assess the broad expectations of pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills. Here at Camden Junior School we are continuing to further develop assessment procedures linked to the non-statutory QCA 8 level scale.

These can also be used to help judgements to be made so that teachers can report to parents at the end of each year and make summary judgements on progress at the end of the pupil’s year 6. These levels can be used in the range of level 1-5 but this will also allow judgements on pupils whose performance will fall below the expectations and those who may perform above level 5. The QCA provide exemplar material on their web site.

All pupils will be given equal access to the religious education curriculum irrespective of their gender, ethnicity and social background. Developments will be in line with the school policy on equal opportunities.

Appropriate adjustments will be made for pupils who have special educational needs or for those for whom religious education create tensions with their value and belief systems. A differentiated approach will operate at the planning stage and be adjusted to suit the needs of individual pupils. Specific pupil’s needs will be provided for in line with the school’s policy on SEN.

We will endeavour to recognise those pupils who show more ability and perform above that expected for their age in RE. These pupils will be given opportunities and tasks to maximise progression and development in RE.

Opportunities for the use or ICT will be promoted and will include RE software, the use of the Internet and e-mail, digital and video cameras. The programmes of study do make specific reference to its use. The school’s policy on ICT also specifies particular skills and processes that can be linked to Religious Education.

This document will be regularly updated and take account or any future national developments in the subject. The co-ordinator will also monitor and evaluate the teaching and learning of the subject and report regularly to the Senior Management team and Governing body.