RE
At Ainsdale St. John's, Religious Education is a core subject and is central to our vision of enabling every child to 'let their light shine'.
Through weekly RE lessons, children are given opportunities to explore life's big questions, develop their understanding of faith and belief, and reflect on their own values and experiences. RE plays a vital role in supporting our children to grow spiritually, morally, socially and culturally, helping them to understand both themselves and the diverse world in which they live.
As a Church of England school, Christianity is at the heart of our RE curriculum. Children develop a deep understanding of Christian beliefs, teachings and practices, while also learning about a range of other faiths and worldviews. We encourage children to be curious, ask thoughtful questions and engage respectfully with different perspectives. Through discussion, reflection and enquiry, children learn to appreciate diversity, challenge stereotypes and recognise the value of every individual.
Our RE curriculum nurtures respect, compassion and understanding, helping children to develop the knowledge and skills needed to become responsible citizens in modern Britain. We want our pupils to leave Ainsdale St. John's with a secure understanding of faith and belief, confidence in expressing their own views and the ability to engage thoughtfully and respectfully with the beliefs of others.
Through RE, we inspire children to become reflective learners who demonstrate our Christian values in their daily lives and contribute positively to their communities.
Questful RE
At Ainsdale St. John's, Religious Education is taught through the Blackburn Diocese Questful RE curriculum from Reception to Year 6.
Questful is an enquiry-based approach that encourages children to ask questions, explore beliefs and reflect on how faith influences people's lives. Through the study of Christianity and a range of other faiths and worldviews, children develop religious literacy and gain an understanding of the diverse society in which they live.
The curriculum is carefully sequenced to build knowledge and understanding over time, enabling children to make connections between beliefs, teachings, practices and values.
Through discussion, reflection and critical thinking, pupils are encouraged to consider their own responses to life's big questions while developing respect for the beliefs and experiences of others.
Working in Partnership
Parents play an important role in supporting Religious Education by encouraging curiosity, discussion and reflection. Talking about beliefs, values and current events can help children make connections between their learning and the world around them. Families can support learning by discussing questions such as "What is important to us?", "How do our actions affect others?" and "What can we learn from different beliefs and traditions?"
Reading stories from the Bible and other faith traditions, visiting places of worship, celebrating religious festivals and discussing family values can all enrich children's understanding of religion and belief. Encouraging children to ask questions and share their thoughts helps to develop confidence, respect and critical thinking skills.
The following websites provide engaging, age-appropriate resources to support learning in Religious Education:
BBC Bitesize Religion and Worldviews – Information, videos and activities covering Christianity and other major world religions.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesizeBBC Teach – Religious Education – Short videos and classroom resources exploring beliefs, festivals and places of worship.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teachNATRE (National Association of Teachers of Religious Education) – Child-friendly resources and information about different faiths and worldviews.
https://www.natre.org.ukChristianity.org.uk – Accessible information about Christian beliefs, worship and traditions.
https://www.christianity.org.ukDK Find Out! Religions – Engaging articles, facts and images introducing children to a variety of world religions.
https://www.dkfindout.com/ukCBBC Newsround – Useful for discussing current events, diversity and issues that relate to beliefs, values and communities.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround
We encourage children to share what they have been learning in RE at home and to ask questions about beliefs, values and the world around them. These conversations help develop understanding, empathy and respect for others.