Religious Education

Subject Intent

The following statement is shared and discussed with all students in lessons:

“In our RE lessons at Derby Cathedral School, we explore life’s big questions in order to find out what people believe and what difference this makes to the way they live.
We are encouraged to make sense of a variety of religions and other worldviews as well as having the opportunity to reflect on our own ideas, beliefs and ways of living.”

The planning, delivery and application of RE will all be done with a clear focus on the importance and value of learning and living within the diverse community of Derby City. As a subject it will therefore not only reflect pupil’s own personal experience but will also broaden their view to consider different attitudes, opinions, ideas and beliefs. The key attitudes of tolerance, respect and understanding are consequently developed and encouraged in both the content of the lessons and the way in which they are taught.

Reflecting and celebrating the diversity of our school community is at the heart of everything we do in RE. From an exploration of different festivals and holy places in Y7 to understanding how different cultures respond to environmental concerns in Y8, the value of difference and the need to include all is part of every lesson taught. This is particularly relevant when students gain new knowledge about other faiths, beliefs or cultures since removing ignorance is a step towards promoting acceptance.

Religious Education at the Derby Cathedral school also:

• Promotes the progression of knowledge and skills, specifically continuing the key elements of ‘Believing, Expressing and Living’ from Key Stage 2 into Key Stage 3 and beyond.
• Develops literacy skills, particularly the ‘religious literacy’ of all pupils.
• Encourages a number of wider, transferable skills that can be readily used in other subject areas and beyond. For example, the 6 key skills that are promoted at KS3 are: asking questions, providing descriptions, making comparisons, showing empathy, developing evaluations and expressing opinions.
• Values academic rigor and prepares students for the requirements of examinations at Key Stage 4 and beyond.
• Recognises the value of issues that go beyond the academic and encourages discussion and questions relating to identity, belonging, commitment and the treatment of others.
• Inspires responsibility for the way we treat ourselves, each other and the environment we live in.
• Enables students to develop their spiritual awareness and grow in their understanding of Christian values.
• Explores beliefs and the spiritual dimension to life, especially the role of faith in encouraging ‘courageous advocacy’.
• Asks life’s important questions, like “How did the world begin?” or “Does God exist?” or “Why do people suffer?” and allows the opportunity to explore possible answers.

In conclusion, RE at the Derby Cathedral School helps to prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in modern Britain. It studies Christianity as a living and diverse faith, focusing on the teaching of Jesus and the Church, promoting a rich, deep knowledge and understanding of Christian belief and practice. It explores a range of religions and worldviews, fostering respect for others, giving opportunities for pupils to understand the role of foundational texts, beliefs, rituals, and practices and how they help form identity. It engages with challenging questions of meaning and purpose raised by human existence and experience. It develops confident religious literacy in our pupils and provides a safe space for them to explore their own religious, spiritual and/or philosophical ways of seeing, living and thinking, believing and belonging.

The RE curriculum is a major contributor to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils and supports the whole school FAITH values by promoting fellowship, aspiration, integrity, tenacity and humility in both the specific content of the lessons and the way in which it is taught.

RE Curriculum Plans