Religious Education
Religious Education at St Michael’s is taught through a worldviews approach, helping pupils to become religiously literate and to understand how beliefs and values shape how people live and see the world. Rooted in our vision to Believe and Achieve to be the best that we can be, RE supports pupils to make sense of the world around them with curiosity, respect and thoughtful reflection.
At St Michael’s Church of England Primary School, we believe that high-quality Religious Education is essential in developing pupils who are thoughtful, respectful and curious about the world around them. Through our RE curriculum, pupils explore how beliefs, values and traditions shape people’s lives and communities, helping them develop understanding and empathy towards others.
Substantive Knowledge
At St Michael’s, substantive knowledge in Religious Education is the core knowledge that pupils learn about religions, worldviews, beliefs, practices, traditions and sacred texts. Through the Lincolnshire Agreed Syllabus, children develop an understanding of how faith and belief shape the lives of individuals and communities. This knowledge helps pupils to appreciate diversity, deepen their understanding of the world around them and reflect on our school vision of “Believe and Achieve to be the best that we can be!” while living out our Christian values of respect, compassion and justice.
Disciplinary Knowledge
Disciplinary knowledge is about how pupils learn to think, question and investigate as young theologians, philosophers and social scientists. Children develop skills such as asking meaningful questions, interpreting religious texts, exploring different viewpoints, evaluating ideas and expressing their own reasoned responses. These skills encourage curiosity, critical thinking and respectful dialogue, helping pupils to engage thoughtfully with both their own beliefs and the beliefs of others in a spirit of koinonia, humility and peace.
Personal Knowledge
Personal knowledge recognises that Religious Education is not only about learning facts and skills but also about reflecting on personal beliefs, values and experiences. Pupils are encouraged to consider important questions about meaning, purpose, identity and belonging, making connections between what they learn and their own lives. This aspect of RE supports spiritual development and helps children grow as reflective, compassionate individuals who are able to understand themselves and contribute positively to their community, embodying our school vision and Christian values.
