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RE and SMSC

‘‘RE is like an iceberg. As you unpack ideas, you come to understand deeper meaning.’ – Mary Myatt

Our RE Curriculum can be found by clicking on this logo:

Your child’s class teacher will be able to answer any questions about your child’s RE and SMSC learning. You can also speak to our RE and SMSC Leader at LHPSN, Mrs Brooks.

The principal aim of religious education here at Lickey Hills is to explore with our children what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion and belief, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living. Our ‘Golden Threads’ drive our curriculum in each subject, including RE:

Knowledge – To know more, remember more and be able to do more.
Legacy – To study the footprints left behind after a group of people, time in history or a person’s impact on different societies.
Global Citizenship – To understand our role and responsibility to each other and to our world.
Childhood, Home and Family – What different childhoods, homes and families are like and in the past, making connections through comparisons to our ‘home’ – the local environment of the Lickey Hills.

With these threads at the heart of our teaching, it makes it clear that Religious Education is a vital subject at our school as it lends itself to our children learning all about those four ‘Golden Threads.’ We follow the Worcestershire Agreed Syllabus 2020 which asserts the importance and value of religious education (RE) for all pupils, with on-going benefits for an open, articulate and understanding society. The following purpose statements underpin the syllabus which is constructed to support pupils and teachers in fulfilling them:

Religious education contributes dynamically to children and young people’s education in schools by provoking challenging questions about meaning and purpose in life, beliefs about God, ultimate reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human.
In RE pupils learn about religions and beliefs in local, national and global contexts, to discover, explore and consider different answers to these questions.
Pupils learn to weigh up the value of wisdom from different sources, to develop and express their insights in response and to agree or disagree respectfully.
Teaching therefore should equip pupils with systematic knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and beliefs, enabling them to develop their ideas, values and identities.
RE should develop in pupils an aptitude for dialogue so that they can participate positively in our society, with its diverse religions and beliefs.
Pupils should gain and deploy the skills needed to understand, interpret and evaluate texts, sources of wisdom and authority and other evidence. They should learn to articulate clearly and coherently their personal beliefs, ideas, values and experiences while respecting the right of others to differ.

We believe at LHPSN that using our local and school community is invaluable in the teaching RE, building deeper connections to our local community. Therefore we ensure that our children have the opportunity to visit religious places and also encourage visitors into school to provide the unique insights of lived religion and belief.

Curriculum Corner

To gain an insight into RE in action, take a look at our recent Curriculum Corner article here: RE Curriculum Corner Autumn 23 and one from last academic year by clicking this link: RE Curriculum Corner Summer 23.

Curriculum Intent for Spiritual Moral Social and Cultural Education (SMSC) : We take our responsibility to prepare children for life in modern Britain very seriously and ensure that the fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the ethos and work of our school. Our curriculum promotes respect for the views of each individual child, as well as for people of all cultures, backgrounds and beliefs. We value the moral development of each person, as well as their intellectual and physical growth. We organise our curriculum so that we promote cooperation and understanding between all members of our community.

SMSC education allows our pupils to explore and develop their own beliefs and values whilst learning about and respecting others. It encourages them to have high standards of behaviour, recognising right and wrong. It prepares pupils to contribute to society and culture throughout their lives. It also develops appreciation of the diversity of other cultures through participation in a range of cultural opportunities and creates an inclusive environment for all children.

SMSC-statement