Leader: Mrs Wilson

At Greenfields we have spent the last two years developing our RE curriculum to ensure that it is reflective of our local community. The ethos behind our curriculum is underpinned by developing citizens of the future. We want our children to understand how we behave and live our lives affects other people and the world we live in. This is why our behaviour and ways of living are important issues. Our behaviour is influenced by our attitudes. Our attitudes are influenced by our experiences and beliefs. RE is the opportunity to reflect on our experience of the world and the beliefs, values and attitudes that guide us through life.

We do this by exploring the beliefs, values, practices, and ways of living from the principal religions and different worldviews.

We all play a part in creating the world and society we live in. What we believe, whether religious or not, contributes significantly to this. RE helps pupils (and the school as a whole) to reflect on the ways in which beliefs influence how people live their lives. At Greenfields we have worked hard to develop links to different places of worship in our community. Religious education has a particularly significant contribution to make because it is about a person’s way of experiencing, responding to and understanding the world. 

As part of our offer, we want every child to understand and accept and appreciate our diverse community. Visits to different places of worship take place in the Spring Term and link to the learning taking place in the classroom. We aim to provide first hand experiences to bring learning to life.

Early Years and Year 1- Beginning at two years old our children visit St Columba’s church in Wideopen and take part in Messy Play activities throughout the year. This continues as our children transition to Nursery and ensures that the children of Greenfields know where their local church is and know that they are always welcome there. In Reception our children return to the church to begin learning about Christian values and features of the church. This learning is further developed in Year 1 as the children name and recognise the purpose of things we see in the Church. The children also learn about Baptism and recreate a Christening taking on different roles in church around the font.

As our children develop their knowledge about different religions they attend visits to the following places of worship within our local community;

Years 2 and 5 – Central Mosque in Newcastle

Year 3- Synagogue, Newcastle Reform

Year 4- Compassion Kadampa Buddhist Centre

Year 6- Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha

Pupil voice at Greenfields tells us that our children enjoy learning in RE. The teaching of RE is both creative and varied. Approaches include food tasting, drama, visits, art, music, re-telling important stories and reflecting on what learning means to them.

As part of developing local links we also work closely with our local Reverend who comes along to our assemblies and shares in our learning.