Implementation of Religious Education at All Saints’

At All Saints’, Religious Education is delivered through the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education (SDBE) syllabus, which provides a structured yet flexible framework rather than a fixed scheme of work. This allows teachers to adapt learning to meet the needs of their pupils while ensuring high-quality, engaging and meaningful RE.

Enquiry-Based Curriculum

Our RE curriculum is built around an enquiry approach, where each unit is driven by a central question supported by smaller, focused questions. Learning follows a clear cycle:

• Engage – introducing key ideas and sparking curiosity

• Enquire & Explore – developing knowledge through investigation

• Evaluate & Express – reflecting, responding and making connections

Lessons are carefully planned through the three lenses of:

• Believing (theological)

• Thinking (philosophical)

• Living (sociological)

This ensures pupils gain a balanced and in-depth understanding of religion and worldviews.

Building Knowledge and Progression

The curriculum is designed to develop three types of knowledge:

• Substantive knowledge – core facts and concepts (“sticky knowledge”)

• Disciplinary knowledge – how pupils think and work as learners in RE

• Personal knowledge – pupils’ own beliefs, reflections and experiences

A spiral curriculum ensures key concepts are revisited and deepened over time, helping pupils make connections across different units and stages of learning.

High-Quality Teaching and Learning

Teachers plan engaging and varied learning experiences, including:

• Art, music, drama and storytelling

• Discussion, reflection and extended writing

• Use of authentic artefacts and diverse resources

Pupils are given regular opportunities to express their understanding in different ways, supporting depth of thinking and meaningful outcomes. Cross-curricular links are used where appropriate to enhance learning.

Inclusive and Values-Led Practice

RE at All Saints’ is rooted in our Christian values of Koinonia, Love and Compassion, and promotes:

• British values and community cohesion

• UNICEF Rights Respecting principles

• Respect for diversity, faith and belief

We are committed to creating a curriculum where every child feels valued, included and able to flourish.

Supporting All Learners

Our RE curriculum is inclusive by design and supports all pupils, including those with SEND, disadvantaged pupils and those with English as an additional language (EAL).

Key strategies include:

• Clear modelling and structured talk

• Visuals, artefacts and multi-sensory approaches

• Explicit vocabulary teaching and retrieval practice

• Flexible ways for pupils to demonstrate understanding

We also ensure sensitivity to pupils’ faith backgrounds and lived experiences, creating safe spaces for respectful discussion where all voices are valued.

Challenge and Depth

All pupils are encouraged to think deeply, with additional challenge provided through:

• Higher-order questioning and debate

• Comparing different religious perspectives

• Independent enquiry and critical thinking

The focus is on depth of understanding rather than acceleration, enabling pupils to develop strong religious literacy and thoughtful engagement with complex ideas.

Through this approach, Religious Education at All Saints’ equips pupils with the knowledge, skills and understanding to explore belief, reflect on meaning and engage respectfully with the diverse world around them.