As our children make their way through school they will be taught a range of skills in R.E. which build on prior knowledge and challenge them to become thoughtful and engaged learners. The following headings outline the skills the children will learn as they get older:

Thinking about religion and belief

Key Stage 1 pupils will learn to:

• recall features of religious, spiritual and moral stories and other forms of religious expression;
• recognise and name features of religions and beliefs;
• retell religious, spiritual and moral stories;
• identify how religion and belief is expressed in different ways;
• identify similarities and differences in features of religions and beliefs.

Lower Key Stage 2 will learn to:

• make links between beliefs, stories and practices;
• identify the impacts of beliefs and practices on people’s lives;
• identify similarities and differences between religions and beliefs;
• comment on connections between questions, beliefs, values and practices;
• describe the impact of beliefs and practices on individuals, groups and communities;
• describe similarities and differences within and between religions and beliefs.

Upper Key Stage 2 will learn to:

• explain connections between questions, beliefs, values and practices in different belief systems;
• recognise and explain the impact of beliefs and ultimate questions on individuals and communities;
• explain how and why differences in belief are expressed;
• use religious and philosophical terminology and concepts to explain religions, beliefs and value systems;
• explain some of the challenges offered by the variety of religions and beliefs in the contemporary world;
• explain the reasons for, and effects of, diversity within and between religions, beliefs and cultures.

Enquiring, investigating and interpreting

Key Stage 1 will learn to:

• identify what they find interesting and puzzling in life;
• recognise symbols and other forms of religious expression;
• recognise that some questions about life are difficult to answer;
• ask questions about their own and others’ feelings and experiences;
• identify possible meanings for symbols and other forms of religious expression.

Lower Key Stage 2 will learn to:

• investigate and connect features of religions and beliefs;
• ask significant questions about religions and beliefs;
• describe and suggest meanings for symbols and other forms of religious expression;
• gather, select, and organise ideas about religion and belief;
• suggest answers to some questions raised by the study of religions and beliefs;
• suggest meanings for a range of forms of religious expression, using appropriate vocabulary.

Upper Key Stage 2 will learn to:

• suggest lines of enquiry to address questions raised by the study of religions and beliefs;
• suggest answers to questions raised by the study of religions and beliefs, using relevant sources and evidence;
• recognise and explain diversity within religious expression, using appropriate concepts;
• identify the influences on, and distinguish between, different viewpoints within religions and beliefs;
• interpret religions and beliefs from different perspectives;
• interpret the significance and impact of different forms of religious and spiritual expression.

Belief and teachings (what people believe)

Key Stage 1 will learn to:

• recount outlines of some religious stories;
• retell religious stories and identify some religious beliefs and teachings.

Lower Key Stage 2 will learn to:

• describe some religious beliefs and teachings of religions studied, and their importance;
• describe the key beliefs and teachings of the religions studied, connecting them accurately with other features of the religions making some comparisons between religions.

Upper Key Stage 2 will learn to:

• explain how some beliefs and teachings are shared by different religions and how they make a difference to the lives of individuals and communities;
• make comparisons between the key beliefs, teachings and practices of the Christian faith and other faiths studied, using a wide range of appropriate language and vocabulary.

Practices and lifestyles (what people do)

Key Stage 1 will learn to:

• recognise features of religious life and practice;
• identify some religious practices, and know that some are characteristic of more than one religion.

Lower Key Stage 2 will learn to:

• describe how some features of religions studied are used or exemplified in festivals and practices;
• show understanding of the ways of belonging to religions and what these involve.

Upper Key Stage 2 will learn to:

• explain how selected features of religious life and practice make a difference to the lives of individuals and communities;
• explain in detail the significance of Christian practices, and those of other faiths studied, to the lives of individuals and communities.

Expression and language (how people express themselves)

Key Stage 1 will learn to:

• recognise some religious symbols and words;
• suggest meanings in religious symbols, language and stories.

Lower Key Stage 2 will learn to:

• make links between religious symbols, language and stories and the beliefs or ideas that underlie them;
• show, using technical terminology, how religious beliefs, ideas and feelings can be expressed in a variety of forms, giving meanings for some symbols, stories and language.

Upper Key Stage 2 will learn to:

• explain how some forms of religious expression are used differently by individuals and communities;
• compare the different ways in which people of faith communities express their faith.

Identity and experience (making sense of who we are)

Key Stage 1 will learn to:

• identify aspects of own experience and feelings, in religious material studied;
• respond sensitively to the experiences and feelings of others, including those with a faith.

Lower Key Stage 2 will learn to:

• compare aspects of their own experiences and those of others, identifying what influences their lives;
• ask questions about the significant experiences of key figures from religions studied and suggest answers from own and others' experiences, including believers.

Upper Key Stage 2 will learn to:

• make informed responses to questions of identity and experience in the light of their learning;
• discuss and express their views on some fundamental questions of identity, meaning, purpose and morality related to Christianity and other faiths.

Meaning and purpose (making sense of life)

Key Stage 1 will learn to:

• identify things they find interesting or puzzling, in religious materials studied;
• realise that some questions that cause people to wonder are difficult to answer.

• Lower Key Stage 2 will learn to:

• compare their own and other people's ideas about questions that are difficult to answer;
• ask questions about puzzling aspects of life and experiences and suggest answers, making reference to the teaching of religions studied.

• Upper Key Stage 2 will learn to:

• make informed responses to questions of meaning and purpose in the light of their learning;
• express their views on some fundamental questions of identity, meaning, purpose and morality related to Christianity and other faiths.

Values and commitments (making sense of right and wrong)

Key Stage 1 will learn to:

• identify what is of value and concern to themselves, in religious material studied;
• respond sensitively to the values and concerns of others, including those with a faith, in relation to matters of right and wrong.

Lower Key Stage 2 will learn to:

• make links between values and commitments, including religious ones, and their own attitudes or behaviour;
• ask questions about matters of right and wrong and suggest answers that show understanding of moral and religious issues.

Upper Key Stage 2 will learn to:

• make informed responses to people's values and commitments (including religious ones) in the light of their learning;
• make informed responses to people's values and commitments (including religious ones) in the light of their learning. They will use different techniques to reflect deeply.