Religious Education at Sandown Primary School
At Sandown Primary School, we follow the East Sussex Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education, updated in 2022 and due for review again in 2027. The Understanding Christianity scheme of work further supports our Christianity units.
Religious Education (RE) plays an important role in our curriculum. It gives children the opportunity to explore diverse beliefs and consider how these beliefs influence people’s lives. Through RE, pupils develop the knowledge, understanding, and skills needed to ask thoughtful questions about religion and belief, and to reflect on their own values and ideas.
RE, working in partnership with PSHE, is central to promoting our core values of democracy, respect and tolerance. It helps children develop positive attitudes toward others, fostering understanding and respect for people who share similar or different beliefs.
The faiths and worldviews studied as part of our curriculum include:
- Christianity
- Judaism
- Islam
- Hinduism
- Non-religious worldviews
Our RE curriculum is built around three key principles:
- Making sense of beliefs – developing understanding of religious and non-religious beliefs and teachings.
- Understanding the impact – exploring how beliefs influence individuals and communities.
- Making connections – reflecting on similarities and differences, and considering personal responses to big questions.
Through RE, we aim to nurture open-minded, respectful and thoughtful learners who are well prepared for life in modern Britain.
Throughout the year, our school comes alive with special celebrations, but Christmas truly holds a magical place in our hearts. Here are a few examples of what we have done:
Our Nursery children delight us all with their heartfelt performance of The Nativity, sharing the joy of the season with both the school and their proud families. Their confidence and innocence light up the room and remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.
As a school community, we reflect on the importance of kindness and compassion during this special time. That’s why we proudly take part in Operation Christmas, an organisation that provides gifts to children who might otherwise go without. The enthusiasm from both children and parents is truly inspiring. Together, we embrace the joy of giving, bringing the spirit of Christmas to life in the most meaningful way.
As part of our study of different faiths, we welcome visitors from diverse religious backgrounds and visit our local church. These experiences help bring learning to life, giving pupils a deeper understanding of beliefs and the opportunity to explore faith from the perspective of those who practise it.
Students sharing Question and Answer time with a Muslim member of our community.
Experiencing a wedding ceremony at the local Church.
