Religious Education

Content

Framing and context

Before we explore what religious education (RE) is, it’s worth establishing what it isn’t.For the avoidance of doubt, RE as it’s taught today is not religious instruction. It’s thestudy of religion and beliefs and how they influence individuals, culture, behaviour andnational life.

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Confusion around this has meant teaching RE in schools has a complex history, and it’s worth talking with colleagues to make sure everyone fully understands how RE works in the modern world. Key Stage 3 RE helps pupils make sense of important things about themselves and the world around them. The benefits of this go beyond passing exams and tests; a sentiment perfectly summarised by this quote from a pupil: “RE is like an iceberg. As you unpack ideas, you come to understand deeper meaning”.
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Choosing the right materials for RE is important. They include:

Sacred texts. The beating heart of religious education that usually point to the ultimate: God in Christianity, Yahweh in Judaism, and Allah in Islam.
Stories from faith traditions: the Hadith in Islam, the lives of the saints in the Christian tradition, the wisdom of the Midrash in Judaism and the Ramayana in Hinduism.
Artefacts as ways of understanding belief and practice.
Visits and visitors providing the unique insights of lived religion and belief.
Art and sacred music as ways of understanding and expressing religion.

Professional Communities

The subject association for religious education is the National Association of Teachers of RE (NATRE) and membership is well worthwhile. It’s teacher led and supports and empowers RE teachers and safeguards the future of the subject.

Links

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Films

Explore films in the subject

Primary

Secondary