The principal aim of RE is to engage pupils in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religion and world views address, so that they can develop the understanding and skills needed to appreciate and appraise varied responses to these questions, as well as develop responses of their own. In other words, it explores big questions about life, to find out what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can make sense of religion, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living.

At Beaconside our learning in RE is based on the  Discovery RE programme; an enquiry-based approach with a different enquiry for every half-term focusing on one religion at a time. The aim of the programme is to deepen children’s critical thinking skills through greater subject knowledge and also to allow their own spiritual development. 

Each enquiry has a big enquiry question and this is explored with a 4-step process:

• Engagement (How can I relate to the underpinning concept in my own world?)
• Investigation (What do I need to learn about the religion in order to answer the big question) 
• Evaluation (How well can I apply this knowledge to the big question using critical thinking/evaluation skills?) 
• Expression (Can I express what difference this enquiry has made to me, my thinking and my starting point?) 

Pupils study Christianity in every year group with a spiral developmental approach, Christmas and Easter being given different treatment each year to deepen understanding. Year groups then study an additional religion alongside Christianity, meaning that pupils encounter all 6 principal religions by the end of Key Stage 2.

Pupils from families where non-religious world views are held are represented in many of our classrooms. These world views will also be the focus for study. 

Discovery RE is fully compliant with the Worcestershire Local Syllabus (see mapping document).