In KS5 Religious Education we cover the requirements set out by KCC and the Swale Academies Trust.

Our principal aim is to engage pupils in enquiry into significant human questions which religion and world views address, so that they can develop the understanding and skills needed to appreciate and appraise varied responses to these questions, as well as develop responses of their own. We encourage pupils to engage in meaningful, informed dialogue with those of all other or no faiths, and develop evaluative responses to the questions and issues raised. We seek to support pupils to learn from religions as well as ABOUT religions; values their own ideas and the ideas of others; raise and answer questions; and evaluate their own responses.

Religious Education contributes dynamically to children and young people’s education in schools by provoking challenging questions about meaning and purpose in life, beliefs about God, ultimate reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human.

The curriculum for RE aims to ensure that all pupils:

1. Know about and understand a range of religions and world views, so that they can:

• describe, explain and analyse beliefs and practices, recognising the diversity which exists within and between communities and amongst individuals;
• identify, investigate and respond to questions posed, and responses offered by some of the sources of wisdom found in religions and world views;

• appreciate and appraise the nature, significance and impact of different ways of life and ways of expressing meaning.

2. Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and world views, so that they can:

• explain reasonably their ideas about how beliefs, practices and forms of expression influence individuals and communities;
• express with increasing discernment their personal reflections and critical responses to questions and teachings about identity, diversity, meaning and value, including ethical issues;
• appreciate and appraise varied dimensions of religion.

3. Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and world views, so that they can:

• find out about and investigate key concepts and questions of belonging, meaning, purpose and truth, responding creatively;
• enquire into what enables different individuals and communities to live together respectfully for the wellbeing of all;
• articulate beliefs, values and commitments clearly in order to explain why they may be important in their own and other people’s lives.

We aim to deliver a varied and challenging curriculum to suit multiple learning styles through the use of the Meopham House Style. Pupils are taught in mixed ability groups where they are offered guided choices in tasks of varying difficulty to promote progress for all. This lends itself to opportunities for all abilities to work independently, as well as in mixed groups, to promote progress through the teaching/ coaching of each other. This improves their resilience, reflectiveness, resourcefulness and reciprocity skills. The scheme of work has a careful balance of extended writing opportunities, coupled with oracy tasks to promote pupils’ ability to become well-rounded individuals who will positivity impact the school and local community. There are also a wide range of stretch tasks available every lesson to challenge pupils.