Intent

At Court Lane Junior, Religious Education (RE) enables children to explore concepts that relate to their own lives and those of others. It encourages them to reflect on what it can mean to live with a religious or spiritual orientation and to develop an awareness and understanding of a variety of faiths and world views. Our aim is to nurture open-minded, respectful learners who appreciate the diverse ways people live and the beliefs they hold. We seek to prepare children to communicate, think critically, and act appropriately in an ever-changing, multicultural world. Our pupils will demonstrate tolerance, empathy, and inclusivity, using the enquiry cycle to think inquisitively and engage thoughtfully within the wider community. 

Implement

To achieve this intent, we ground our curriculum in the Hampshire Locally Agreed Syllabus: Living Difference IV. Each unit centres on a new concept—such as symbols, sacred places, or stories with messages—which pupils investigate through the Living Difference cycle of enquiry and always through the lens of a particular religion or world view. Children are given dedicated “pondering time,” where they pause deliberately to synthesise what they have encountered, connect it with prior learning, and see how the concept fits into the enquiry cycle as a whole. Throughout their studies we weave our golden threads—over-arching ideas that recur from Year R to Year 6—enabling pupils to spot patterns, make interdisciplinary links, and deepen their grasp of how concepts matter to different people in diverse contexts. In the process, pupils not only widen their knowledge of faiths and world views but also develop key transferable skills embedded in the syllabus: communicating effectively, enquiring with curiosity, applying ideas, contextualising perspectives, and evaluating evidence with discernment. 

Impact

Through our RE curriculum, children at Court Lane develop a broad understanding of different religions and world views. They learn to reflect on their own beliefs while showing tolerance, mutual respect, and empathy towards others. The use of the enquiry cycle and “pondering time” helps pupils think critically, make connections, and express their ideas with confidence. By exploring key concepts and golden threads throughout their school journey, children deepen their awareness of how people live and what they believe. RE at Court Lane promotes British Values, encouraging pupils to appreciate diversity, challenge stereotypes, and engage respectfully with others. Pupils demonstrate tolerance, inclusivity, and an ability to apply their RE learning beyond the classroom—in their relationships, their choices, and their contributions to the wider community. As a result, they leave our school equipped to contribute positively to a modern, inclusive society.