"Religions are different roads converging to the same points; to understand we must travel along them all."

At Holywell School we aim to develop children’s knowledge, understanding and awareness of Christianity and other world religions, particularly those represented in our local community and in the county of Kent. 

We focus on their beliefs, values and practices.  We encourage children to have a positive attitude towards others, respecting people’s right to hold different beliefs and value systems from their own.  We wish to enable children to begin to develop their own beliefs, values and sense of identity, through curiosity and awareness of the world, and provide opportunities whereby they can explore their own spirituality.  We aim to help children become sensitive and moral citizens in a diverse and multicultural society.

Religious Education stands alone from other curriculum subjects in that it is determined by a Local Agreed Syllabus. At Holywell Primary School we follow ‘The Kent Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education’ (KAS).

The principle aim of Religious Education in the Kent Syllabus is:

To engage pupils in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religion and worldviews 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.

The Kent Agreed Syllabus devotes the majority of the attention to the Christian tradition in all key stages.  In addition, pupils will learn from the principal religions represented in the UK, in line with the law and includes moral and spiritual education.  It aims to provide a broad and balanced Religious Education curriculum, to promote the spiritual, cultural and moral growth of pupils and develop an appreciation of religion in contemporary life.  It does not confine itself exclusively to Religious Education based on the Christian tradition, nor is it denominational, or aim to convert pupils to religion.

At Holywell Primary School we have chosen to study the main beliefs and practises of Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Jewish people. 

Planning for RE is based on the three key strands in the Agreed Syllabus:

1. Believing (Religious beliefs, teachings, sources, questions about meanings and purposes)
2. Expressing (Religious and spiritual forms of expression; questions about identity and diversity)
3. Living (Religious practices and ways of living, questions about values and commitments.)

Aspirations For The Future

Pupils develop an understanding of how subjects and specific skills are linked to future jobs. 
Here are some of the jobs pupils could aspire to do in the future as a Religious Scholar:

• Vicar
• Chaplain
• Member of Parliament
• Journalist
• Advice Worker
• Charity fundraiser
• Youth worker