Whitwell Primary School has no religious affiliation. In school, the teaching of Religious Education (RE) follows the Derbyshire Agreed Religious Syllabus, which is taught in all Derbyshire Primary Schools. Although our RE syllabus reflects the fact that religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian, we do consider other world religions and encourage the children to understand and respect each other’s differences and similarities.

Each Key Stage has an overview of what is required to be covered in the year. Click on the links below:

Religious Education

Curriculum Intent

At Whitwell Primary School we ensure that every pupil is statutory entitlement to RE is met, irrespective of their faith or belief. We follow the Derbyshire Agreed Syllabus, which encourage pupils to explore questions of spirituality, identity, ethics, discrimination and prejudice. A key feature of the syllabus is the range of questions included in each unit. The purpose of these questions is to allow pupils opportunities to investigate, think, reflect, evaluate and make meaning. In doing so they will discover more about themselves, their relationships with others, their relationship with the world and most importantly their relationship with God.

We encourage pupils to articulate their own ideas and experience of religion, belief and spirituality. We encourage all pupils and teachers to experience RE as an exciting subject that feeds into an understanding of what it means to live in Derbyshire and our wider world and to promote harmony and good community relations. We promote interactive, creative and experiential learning that promotes social and ethnic accord alongside the endorsement of fundamental British Values.

Curriculum Implementation

Whitwell Primary engages all learning styles through quality teaching and its extensive collection of resources. The Derbyshire Agreed Syllabus outlines key questions for teacher and pupil exploration and uses a range of learning techniques. The planning within school has been devised to ensure thorough coverage throughout the school. Children are able to build on skills each year and planning provides opportunities to support work at greater depth. There are clear indicators for end of year achievement.

Children have access to a range of resources for a variety of different religions. We encourage hands on approach so that children are able to see how artefacts are used in different religions and supported to understand their value. In addition to RE lessons we hold a Multi-Faith Week, pupils have a week of exploring other world faiths using art, drama, music, food -tasting and special assemblies.

Curriculum Impact

Our Religious Education Curriculum is designed and is planned to encourage a journey of discovery. Children are encouraged to ask questions and discover more about themselves. At the end of each year, pupils have developed their reflective skills, and have gained a new understanding of beliefs and religions in the world around them. Children are able to talk about their knowledge of religion.Children across the school articulate well about the need to be respectful of different beliefs.

Children know how people if different religions may express themselves and treat people equally regardless of background or beliefs. Pupils use acquired vocabulary in lessons. They develop an understanding of the need to be respectful and tolerant of different beliefs. Teachers plan a range of opportunities to develop knowledge of religious topics in practical and creative ways. 

Collective Worship

We hold a daily assembly, where the children come together as a whole school or in Key Stages, enabling children to listen to and reflect and to take an active part wherever possible. Within assembly time we hold collective worship which is a legal requirement. The children are encouraged to have a sense of awe and wonder and spiritual and global awareness. There is also an emphasis on developing a sense of community through the shared ethos, values and attitudes of the school. We follow a structured set of themes throughout the year which include Christian topics, moral, cultural and social stories, multi-faith stories and important dates and people.

Parents have the right to withdraw children from daily collective worship.