Religious Education
Welcome to our RE Curriculum Page. If you'd like to learn more about our Christian Vision and Values, please click here.At St Mary’s, Religious Education helps children to explore big questions, understand different beliefs and worldviews, and reflect on what it means to live well. Through our RE curriculum, children learn about Christianity, a range of world religions and non-religious worldviews. They are encouraged to be curious, respectful and reflective.
Equally, our vision of flourishing together is highly influenced by the African concept of ubuntu – best translated as ‘I am, because we are’ – a beautiful, compelling relational vision of life in relationship – where the mutuality of flourishing together is the central concept around which any community, school, team, or classroom should be built.
Our Vision for RE
RE at St Mary’s is not just about learning facts. It is about helping children to understand people, communities and the world around them. We want our pupils to ask thoughtful questions, listen carefully to others and develop respect for people whose beliefs and experiences may be different from their own.
Our RE curriculum supports our school vision:
“You’re never too young to make a difference.”
Children learn that their voice matters, their questions matter and their actions can make a positive difference in the world.
What Children Learn
Across the school, children learn about:
- Christianity as a living and diverse faith
- Judaism, Islam and Hinduism
- Humanism and non-religious worldviews
- Big questions about life, belonging, belief, community and the world
- How faith and belief can shape the way people live
Children revisit key ideas as they move through the school, building knowledge and understanding over time.
Through the Three Lenses
Our RE learning is explored through three important lenses:
Substantive Knowledge
Children learn about beliefs, teachings, practices, stories, celebrations and ways of life.
Ways of Knowing
Children explore how people know, express and live out their beliefs. They consider sources of wisdom, sacred texts, artefacts, places of worship, lived experience and different interpretations.
Personal Knowledge
Children reflect on their own ideas, values and questions. They are encouraged to think deeply, share respectfully and consider how learning in RE connects with their own lives.
Principle Aim
The principal aim of Religious Education is to explore what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live, so that pupils can gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion and belief, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living.
At St Mary's, we believe that children are never too young to make a difference. Through RE, pupils are encouraged to develop curiosity, respect and compassion whilst considering how their beliefs and actions can positively impact the world around them.
(Adapted from the Devon, Plymouth, Cornwall and Torbay Agreed Syllabus for RE.)
RE Intent
RE explores big questions about life to find out what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live. RE helps pupils to make sense of religion and belief whilst reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living.
Through our Sunrise Curriculum, pupils are given meaningful opportunities to make a difference within school, the local community and the wider world. By the end of their time at St Mary's, children will have completed our 'Ten Things to Do Before You Leave St Mary's', helping them to grow as active citizens, support global causes and achieve experiences that make them proud.
(Adapted from the Devon, Plymouth, Cornwall and Torbay Agreed Syllabus for RE.)
Big Questions We Explore
Throughout their time at St Mary’s, children explore questions such as:
- Why is the word God important to Christians?
- What does it mean to belong?
- What makes a place sacred?
- What kind of world did Jesus want?
- How can we make the world a better place?
- Can people live good lives without religion?
- How does faith help people through difficult times?
RE in Action
At St Mary’s, RE is not just something we learn about — it is something we live.
Our pupils have opportunities to put their learning into action through:
Collective Worship Buddies
Pupils help to lead worship, gather pupil voice, evaluate worship and support reflection across the school.
Spirituality Days
Children explore spirituality through looking in, looking out and looking up, helping them to reflect on themselves, others and the wider world.
Green RE Day
Children learn how religious and non-religious worldviews encourage people to care for creation and make a difference to the world around them.
Church and Community Links
We value our links with Kenwyn church and wider community. These experiences help children understand how faith and belief are lived out in real life.
Pupil Leadership
Through opportunities such as the Young Leaders Award, charity projects and community action, children learn that they are never too young to make a difference.
By the Time Children Leave St Mary’s
Through Religious Education, children develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and a range of religious and non-religious worldviews. More importantly, they develop the character, curiosity and compassion needed to flourish, serve others and make a positive difference in the world. At St Mary's, we believe every child can be an example through their words, actions, faith and love, because they are never too young to make a difference.