How we understand Religious Education
At Newham Bridge Primary School, Religious Education is more than learning about religion and beliefs, we explore big questions, we help our pupils to understand different worldviews, and we aim to develop respect for the diverse community we live in. We help our pupils to develop the understanding and skills needed to think deeply about these big questions, as well as develop responses of their own.
We encourage our pupils to listen respectfully, think deeply and engage in lessons thoughtfully as they learn about beliefs and values different from their own.
We link learning with our Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural curriculum and the British Values such as mutual respect, tolerance, and individual liberty.
What teaching and learning looks like in Religious Education lessons
Our curriculum is taken from the Middlesbrough SACRE Agreed Syllabus and is sequenced around clear, age-appropriate questions that encourage respect, reflection and inquisitiveness. Throughout their learning journey at Newham Bridge, we aim to provide our children with essential knowledge, skills, and experiences they need to build on their past and prepare for their future in an increasingly diverse society.
We base our learning around the three strands; Believing, Expressing and Living.
We structure our learning so it makes sense to our children, recalling prior learning and building upon that learning throughout the year. It focusses on core concepts, equipping them with knowledge and time to develop a deeper understanding. It allows our children to encounter diverse examples of religion and worldviews. It allows our children to articulate their own beliefs and consider worldviews. And it also encourages our children’s personal development, applying their learning to living; giving them an opportunity to make those connections between what they have learnt and the world around them.
We encourage tolerance and respect for other people’s right to hold different beliefs and to develop a positive attitude towards living in a society of diverse religions.
What we see and how we know children are learning
We ENJOY learning through interactive and engaging Religious Education lessons. We discuss, explore, create, ask questions, listen to stories, dance to music, taste food, handle artefacts, listen to visitors and share ideas.
We see our children gaining confidence, celebrating and valuing themselves and understanding their place in our school community. We hear them talk with increasing confidence about different religions and worldviews. We hear them ask thoughtful questions and listen respectfully. We hear them recall core concepts, practices and celebrations from a range of religions. We see them making connections between what they have learnt and their own lives. And, we see them showing respect to people with different beliefs and ways of living.
Our pupils say this…
“I like learning about different religions”
“I like to learn about what other people believe in”
“I like listening to stories and talking about real life”
“It’s important to take care of people and be considerate”
“We like finding out about the world”
“I like learning about what to do for other people, like standing up for them”
What progression looks like from Nursery to Year 6
Below are the ‘Big Questions’ that underpin the learning of RE in our school. Updated September 2026.
Please see our Religious Education Policy below
How you can support our teaching of Religious Education at home
KS1 Religious Education: Religions of the World – BBC Teach
KS2 Religious Education – BBC Bitesize
