Religious Education

Religious Education Leader – Mrs Rachel Ogle

At Northstead, RE is a key part of our curriculum, helping children develop respect, understanding, and curiosity about different faiths, beliefs, and cultures. Rooted in our core values of Community, Opportunities, Responsibility, and Excellence, RE encourages pupils to reflect on their own values while learning about others in a safe and inclusive environment.

Through thoughtful teaching and open discussion, we nurture a sense of empathy, global awareness, and shared responsibility—preparing children to be respectful, informed members of a diverse world.

Religious Education at Northstead – A Parent’s Guide

At Northstead Community Primary School, we believe that Religious Education (RE) is much more than learning about religions — it’s about encouraging curiosity, developing empathy, and helping children make sense of the world around them.

Our RE curriculum aims to engage, inspire, and challenge pupils while promoting respect and understanding of different faiths and worldviews.

What is RE and Why Is It Important?

Religious Education provides children with the opportunity to:

• Learn about major world religions and beliefs
• Explore values, traditions and rituals from a variety of cultures
• Reflect on their own beliefs and experiences
• Develop respect for people with different views

RE also supports children’s Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development, encouraging open-mindedness and a deeper sense of identity and belonging.

What Will My Child Learn?

During their time at Northstead, children will learn about:

• Christianity
• Islam
• Judaism
• Hinduism
• Sikhism

The curriculum is designed as a spiral, meaning key topics and ideas are revisited regularly. This helps embed important knowledge over time and deepens children’s understanding as they grow.

We follow the North Yorkshire Agreed Syllabus, delivered using the high-quality NATRE RE Today scheme, which provides clear progression and excellent teaching resources.

How Is RE Taught?

RE is taught through stimulating, engaging lessons that include:

• Stories and texts from different faiths
• Class discussions and debates
• Creative tasks such as artwork or role-play
• Use of artefacts and visual resources
• Visits and visitors to bring learning to life

Lessons are designed to promote deep thinking, high-quality questioning, and respectful dialogue. Children are encouraged to listen to others, ask thoughtful questions, and share their ideas.

Enrichment and Real-Life Experiences

We believe RE comes to life through real experiences. That’s why we provide enriching opportunities like:

• Visits to churches, mosques and temples
• Interactive sessions with Faith in Scarborough Schools (FISS)
• School-wide events and concerts at places of worship
• Guest speakers from different religious backgrounds

These experiences help children develop real-world understanding and foster a respectful awareness of different faith communities.

If you’d like to learn more about Religious Education at Northstead, or how we approach teaching about different beliefs, please speak to your child’s teacher or the school’s RE lead.

We’re proud to nurture a school community where curiosity, tolerance and thoughtful discussion are at the heart of every RE lesson.