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.

Religious Education Curriculum

Religious Education and Literacy Knowledge Organisers

Religious Education and Literacy Policy

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.

Religious Literacy 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.

Learning Through the Three 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.

This page provides prospective parents and visitors with a glimpse into our curriculum. Parents of Blue School pupils are provided with detailed guides to subject planning in the form of ‘Knowledge Organisers’ in Parent Zone.

RE Sequence

EYFS

Our children in EYFS will be able to explain who God is and why he is important to Christians. They will delve into the role God plays in rescuing people, including some of his miracles. Finally, as an introduction to school worship, they will visit one of our local churches, experiencing a service being led by our year 6 children.

Key Stage 1

At the end of KS1, children will be able to express an understanding of creation, discuss the importance of the Lord’s Prayer and begin to recite it, identify important individuals in God’s life and their role in Christianity. To build on our children’s faith, they will take part in a trip to a local church to learn about and participate in a baptism. Children will be introduced to Judaism, and will be able to compare symbols and practises to Christianity.

Lower Key Stage 2

In LKS2, the children will explore some of the big stories within The Bible, discussing their significance, while starting to appreciate the important role the Ten Commandments play within Christian life. As their journey continues, the children will deepen their understanding of Judaism, and begin to investigate Hinduism and its similarities and differences to Christianity. The children will finish their time in LKS2 by investigating the importance of Holy Communion and its symbolism.

Upper Key Stage 2

By the end of KS2 children will have had numerous opportunities to learn through and learn about our Christian faith, developing an understanding and appreciation of the morals, values and the ways in which our faith can guide us in our life journey. Each child will also have the opportunity to learn about other world faiths, what makes their faith special to them and explore the similarities to Christianity. All children will have the opportunity to take part in the Year 6 church services – a spiritual highlight in the school calendar.