At St James’, Religious Education (RE) follows the Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus (2026-2030), which has been carefully designed as a spiral curriculum. This means that throughout their primary education, children revisit key ideas, beliefs and concepts, building upon previous learning and developing a deeper understanding as they progress through each Key Stage.
Our RE curriculum encourages children to explore both religious and non-religious worldviews within a culture of respect, openness and curiosity. Pupils learn about Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Hinduism, while also considering non-religious perspectives such as Humanism. Through this learning, children develop an appreciation of the diversity of beliefs, values and traditions that shape our local, national and global communities.
At the heart of the Gloucestershire syllabus is the understanding that everyone has a worldview – a way of seeing and making sense of the world, shaped by experiences, beliefs and values. Children explore these ideas through engaging enquiry questions and ‘Big Questions’ that encourage curiosity, thoughtfulness and deeper thinking. They are supported to consider 3 elements: What do I know about your view, and why do you see it that way?; What is my view, and why do I think that? and How can I find out more about different perspectives?
Learning is enriched through a range of ‘tools for understanding’ that help children explore and appreciate the viewpoints of others while developing and articulating their own. We place great importance on evaluating how beliefs influence the ways people live their lives and the decisions they make.
Our curriculum embraces the community in which we live. Children learn about local places of worship and benefit from visits and visitors that bring learning to life. We actively search for links between school, faith and home communities, while virtual platforms and immersive experiences further enhance understanding.
Throughout every stage of learning, we encourage pupils to be considered, respectful and confident communicators, ensuring that every voice is heard, valued and appreciated as part of our shared journey of discovery.