Religious Education

At The Blue School, where children come from all faiths and none, Religious Education enables every child to flourish and to live life in all its fullness (John 10:10).

Religious Education is a golden thread running through our community, deeply rooted in our vision: “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17). Guided by this, our curriculum nurtures wisdom, hope, dignity and community, helping every child to grow as a person of compassion, respect and courage.

We are a school where children of all faiths and none journey together, learning to honour their own stories while valuing the beliefs and traditions of others. In lessons, worship, enrichment visits and reflective spaces, children encounter the richness of Christianity as well as the treasures of the world’s major faiths. They do not just learn about religions; they grow into young people who seek to listen deeply, think generously and act courageously.

At the heart of Religious Education at The Blue School is the teaching of Christianity, which provides the foundation for our curriculum. Children are taken on a journey of discovery, from exploring the Bible’s Big Story, to reflecting on the meaning of Jewish festivals, Islamic beliefs and practices, to experiencing the beauty of Hindu worship and sewa in Sikhism, to asking what the Buddha taught about peace. Every unit inspires awe, invites big questions, and sparks wonder, preparing children for the responsibilities and opportunities of life in modern society.

Through Religious Education, children flourish spiritually, morally, socially, culturally and academically. They learn to articulate their own values, to reflect on the values of others, and to live well together in a diverse world. RE at The Blue School is about cultivating the whole child, mind, body, and spirit, so that each may contribute richly to the world.

Our Aims in Religious Education

At our school, religious education supports and strengthens our vision, mission and values that are at the heart of what we do in every aspect of school life. As a Church of England primary school, we follow the agreed syllabus provided by the London Diocesan Board for Schools.

Religious Education at The Blue School seeks to:

Nurture every child’s spiritual development, rooted in Christian distinctiveness.
Deepen knowledge and understanding of Christianity and its relevance for today.
Explore and respect the beliefs and practices of the world’s major religions.
Encourage children to reflect on and express their own values, commitments, and questions.
Foster attitudes of respect, curiosity, and courageous advocacy.
Equip children with skills to flourish spiritually, morally, socially, culturally, and intellectually.

The Blue School RE And RL Policy.docx

Religious Literacy at The Blue School

Religious Literacy at The Blue School is a distinctive and academic discipline, where comprehension, critical thinking and spirituality meet. It is here that children learn to read with depth, reflect with courage, and respond with compassion.

Through carefully sequenced lessons from Nursery to Year 6, children grow in their ability to make sense of sacred texts, to uncover layers of meaning, and to connect with the world they inhabit today. Children are taught to see through the eyes of a believer, whether reading the words of the prophets, the poetry of the psalms, the parables of Jesus, or the stories of other world faiths.

Religious Literacy offers children the skills to:

interpret sacred writings with confidence and respect
wrestle with life’s deepest questions of truth, purpose and belonging
recognise the beauty of diversity and the dignity of every human being
connect ancient wisdom with the challenges and opportunities of modern life

At its heart, Religious Literacy is about nurturing young people to stand with both conviction and humility in a complex world. They learn to weigh ideas carefully, listen openly, and speak kindly. They are encouraged to become courageous advocates who seek justice, offer hope and live with respect.

Religious Literacy strengthens our Christian distinctiveness while embracing the richness of global faith traditions. In doing so, it prepares our children to be thoughtful, compassionate leaders who will help shape a world where all may flourish.

RLSequenced Curriculum

Religious Disciplines

Throughout religious education and religious literacy, children encounter religion through three interconnected disciplines, theology, philosophy and human and social sciences. This approach ensures their learning is rooted in scripture, enriched by deep thinking and grounded in lived experience.

Theology – Believing
Children step into the stories, wisdom, and teachings of faith. They explore sacred texts, seek to understand the character of God, and discover how belief shapes the lives of communities. Theological learning nurtures a sense of awe, reverence and spiritual curiosity.
Philosophy – Thinking
Children are invited to consider the big questions of life: Who am I? What is truth? What does it mean to live well? They practise reasoning, debating, and reflecting with respect and courage. Philosophy equips them to think wisely and to approach complexity with both humility and confidence.
Human and Social Sciences – Living
Children explore how faith is expressed in daily life, festivals, rituals, and acts of service. They consider how beliefs inspire communities to work for justice, care for creation, and show compassion to others. This discipline grounds their learning in real-world contexts and invites them to see themselves as agents of dignity and hope.

When woven together, these three disciplines form a curriculum that is both rigorous and transformative. Children are not only taught knowledge; they are guided to grow spiritually, morally, and socially. They leave us as religiously literate young people, ready to flourish in every aspect of life, and to contribute to the world they will inherit.

Religious Disciplines

The Blue School’s Signature Pedagogy

Our signature pedagogy for Religious Education is built on four spiritual lenses: Reflection (Mirror), Transformation (Door), Encounter (Candle), and Experience (Window). Through these, children are encouraged to reflect on their own beliefs, explore life-shaping questions, encounter diverse faiths and experience moments of awe and wonder.

Learning is enriched through theology, philosophy, and the human and social sciences, helping children to think deeply, understand different perspectives, and connect faith to lived experience. From immersive storytelling and peace garden reflections to debates, visits and creative projects, our approach inspires curiosity, empathy, and wisdom.

At The Blue School, we provide a vibrant, reflective education that equips children to grow in faith, knowledge and character, preparing them for full and joyful lives.

Spiritual flourishing at The Blue School

The Blue School is grounded in our Christian vision, where spiritual growth is nurtured through the lenses of

Reflection – exploring your own views, beliefs and experiences.
Transformation – considering how faith and values can shape change in yourself and others.
Encounter – looking beyond what we can see, engaging with diverse people, stories, and faiths.
Experience – discovering awe and wonder in the world around us.

Our spiritual lenses encourage children to connect faith to life, explore moral choices, and experience awe and wonder in the world around them. Spiritual threads are also woven across all subjects: from creativity in the arts, to stewardship in science and geography, to giving thanks by showing respect and kindness as good sportspeople in PE.

Spiritual flourishing is not only nurtured in the classroom but also shines through in our playtimes. As an Opal Play school, we provide children with daily opportunities to encounter awe and wonder, whether that is marvelling at the changing seasons in our outdoor spaces, noticing beauty in natural materials, or working together to create imaginative worlds.

This unstructured, creative play is a vital part of children’s spiritual journey. It gives them space to reflect, to connect faith to life and to recognise their place in a wider community. In these moments of discovery, joy and reflection, spiritual flourishing takes root, helping every child to live life in all its fullness.

Alongside rich lessons, reflective worship, and creative expression, play sits naturally alongside our Peace Garden and classroom prayer spaces as part of a wider rhythm of awe and wonder. Here, children are invited to grow in faith, character and confidence. At The Blue School, spiritual flourishing is not simply taught; it is lived each day, as pupils learn to reflect, to question and to serve with wisdom, dignity and hope.

Spirituality policy

At The Blue School, children don’t just learn, they flourish.

The following documnets show how we plan for learning in RE across the school:

Y5 RE Spring 1 Hinduism

EYFS

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, our children begin their journey of understanding faith and belief by learning about who Jesus is and why he is special to Christians. They start to explore the idea of Jesus as a rescuer and enjoy discovering some of his miracles through storytelling, role play and reflection.

Children also learn about God’s creation and how they can take care of our wonderful world and each other. Through practical experiences and reflection, they begin to understand the importance of stewardship, looking after the environment and showing dignity and compassion towards all living things. These moments often nurture their sense of spirituality, as they express awe and wonder at the beauty of the world around them and recognise their own part in helping it to flourish.

As part of developing their awareness of the wider world, children learn that people have different beliefs and ways of worshipping. In the unit What Makes a Place Special? They explore churches, synagogues and mosques, thinking about what makes these places meaningful to those who visit them.

Through the unit What Can We Learn from Stories? children listen to stories from the Bible, the Torah and the Qur’an, sharing their thoughts about the values and lessons within them. They love welcoming guest visitors, including clergy members and parents, who share their own faith experiences and help bring learning to life.

They are introduced to collective worship within school, taking part in joyful gatherings and experiencing services led by our Year 6 pupils, helping them feel part of our wider school family.

Key Stage 1

In Key Stage 1, children deepen their understanding of faith by exploring key Bible stories and teachings. By the end of this stage, they can talk about creation and how Christians believe God made the world, linking this to their own role as stewards who care for creation and one another. These reflections nurture their spirituality as they recognise beauty, wonder and responsibility in the world around them.

Children learn about important figures in God’s story of salvation and explore the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer, beginning to recite it and understand how prayer helps Christians connect with God.

Faith comes to life through real experiences. In KS1, children visit local churches to learn about Christian promises and take part in a baptism celebration and in Year 2, they explore the Gospels and the message of the Kingdom of God, thinking about how these teachings inspire compassion, love and service at All Saints Church.

They are also introduced to Islam and Judaism, enjoying visits and guest speakers who share their beliefs and practices. Year 2 visit a mosque to learn about the Five Pillars of Islam, helping them make meaningful comparisons between these faiths and Christianity. Across all learning, children recognise shared values such as friendship, community, devotion, service and belonging, developing empathy, respect and curiosity for the diverse world they live in.

Lower Key Stage 2

In Lower Key Stage 2, children build on their understanding of faith by exploring some of the major stories from the Bible, discussing their meaning and significance, and beginning to appreciate the role of the Ten Commandments in guiding Christian life.

Their learning broadens as they deepen their knowledge of Judaism and are introduced to Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism, exploring similarities and differences with Christianity. These topics are brought to life through visits, including a Year 3 trip to the Richmond Synagogue and a Year 4 visit to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London.

Children also explore Christian practices in more depth, investigating the importance of the Eucharist, Holy Communion and Liturgy, reflecting on their symbolism and how these traditions nurture faith, community and spiritual understanding.

Throughout LKS2, opportunities to reflect on stewardship, shared values and spirituality help children connect what they learn with their own experiences and the wider world.

Upper Key Stage 2

In Upper Key Stage 2, children have numerous opportunities to learn through and about the Christian faith, developing a deeper understanding of its morals, values and how faith can guide them in life. They explore thought-provoking topics such as Should Every Christian Go on a Pilgrimage? and Sacraments: What Might the Journey of Life Look Like from a Christian Perspective?, helping them reflect on the relevance of faith in everyday life.

Children also continue to learn about other world faiths, nurturing their worldview and exploring what makes each faith special, while recognising shared values and beliefs. In Year 5, they deepen their understanding of Hinduism and Sikhism and enjoy an enrichment trip to a local Gurdwara, bringing their learning to life. In Year 6, they revisit Islam and Buddhism, culminating in a visit to the Buddhapadipa Temple in London.

Throughout Upper Key Stage 2, children engage in spiritual experiences such as taking part in Year 6 church services, which are a highlight of the school calendar, while reflecting on leadership and stewardship, shared values and the role of faith in supporting them to live out our school vision with compassion, responsibility and empathy in the wider world.