New Lincolnshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education 2025-2030.
We are in a year of transition from the current Lincolnshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education 2018-2023 to the new Lincolnshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education 2025-2030. The overview below identifies for each year group across this year which Syllabus is being followed as well as the key questions and religions.
Religious Education is an integral part of children’s education as it enables our pupils to explore different points of view and is closely linked to the British Values we strive to uphold at Holbeach Bank Academy.
At our academy, children learn about different religions and explore human experiences.
They also learn from religion and respond to human experience.
Whole School Overview
Religious Education learning is based on four key concepts; authority, religious belief and lifestyle, celebration and the sacred.
Across these four concepts children have the opportunity to study Christianity, Hinduism and Islam in depth, and are also aware of Sikhism, Judaism and Buddhism in the wider world.
In Key Stage One we learn about Islam and Christianity as our main religions and in Key Stage Two we add Hinduism to this, following the guidance of the Lincolnshire Agreed Syllabus.
Local Community and Church Links
RE learning is enhanced at Holbeach Bank Academy by our close links with our local churches and vicars, which includes All Saints Church in Holbeach.
Half termly visits from our Church contacts are in place and they deliver assemblies a chosen theme, for example, friendship. This theme is then discussed in class and the children enjoy these interactive assemblies. Currently, both vicars in Holbeach are retiring so we have got an exciting opportunity to create a link with the new vicars once they have been appointed and our contact is very enthusiastic work with the school and get involved with RE lessons too.
We also hold our own services at either All Saints Church in at school for Harvest, Christmas and Easter. All the children from Early Years up to Year 6 get involved in these services and parents are welcome to join us at these too. These visits to Church were put on hold due to Covid-19. But for Harvest (October 2021) we were able to gather as a school in the hall and have a service together which was live streamed to any adults at home who wished to watch. This year, we are going to hold services which will be share with parents face-to-face.
We also have a singing club at Holbeach Bank Academy that perform in various festivals and events organised and held at All Saints Church. Our first event last year was at the Big Bang event in Holbeach (November 2021) and our second event was at All Saints Church for a Christmas lantern parade (December 2021). We are looking forward to events coming up this year.
Religious Education Intent, Implementation and Impact Statement
Intent
At Holbeach Bank Academy we believe In a world of confusion and shifting values, children need accurate information and a helpful environment in which they can explore and form their own values and develop skills to deal with life’s joys, sorrows and questions.
It is important for all children to develop their religious literacy as this gives them the ability to hold balanced and well-informed conversations about religion and belief. We encourage our children to ask questions about the world and reflect on their own beliefs, values and experiences
Our curriculum is designed to encourage creativity, imagination, enquiry, debate, discussion and independence.
Implementation
Our Religious Education Scheme of Work is based on the Lincolnshire locally agreed syllabus and compulsory units from the syllabus and units from Discovery RE programme.
Wherever possible, pupils are actively engaged in exploratory and experimental learning including opportunities to:
- Observe religious artefacts, paintings, books, photos, pictures etc;
- Gain first-hand knowledge through direct questioning;
- Studying sacred texts and stories;
- Visit places of worship in a planned and structured way;
- Meet and talk to believers of various faiths in a planned and controlled situation.
Learning is geared to more than the accumulation of factual knowledge and personal experiences. Opportunities for analysis and discussion are especially important and must be given to enable the child to develop deeper insights and deeper perceptions that lead to understanding.
During the Early Years Foundation Stage children work toward the Early Learning Goal of People, Culture and Communities. Children are taught about differences between different religious and cultural communities and reflect on their own experience of family, community and religion.
In Key Stage One, the principal religions studied will be Christianity and Islam.
In Key Stage Two, the principal religions studied will be Christianity, Islam and Hinduism.
We acknowledge that each religion studied can contribute to the education of all our pupils and enhance their Social, Moral and Cultural development.
Impact
Pupils at Holbeach Bank Academy will make the best possible progress and demonstrate a deepened understanding of religion. Children will enjoy learning about other religions and beliefs . Through our curriculum children will be able to make links between their own lives and those of others in their community and be able to hold well-balanced and informed discussions.