Religious Education in St Marys is taught weekly across all year groups.  Our whole school overview ensures a range of religions are studied. We have chosen to use teaching units from  Awareness Mystery and Values and Understanding Christianity to ensure there is an opportunity to develop a diverse understanding of a range of different faiths. From Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Humanism and Hinduism. Children enjoy a variety of different teaching approaches, such as drama and debate and recording ideas in different ways. 

We aim to provide children with opportunities to see faiths in action. Where visits are taken or people of different faiths are invited in to speak to the children. This often enhances the children's understanding of  the faiths. We make the most of having good links with the local Minister of St Mary’s Church, Rev Blewett. Children go to the church to learn about Christian Baptisms and Christian Marriages. 

We recently had a visitor talking about her Jewish faith. This is how the children responded.

‘I liked learning about the different types of Jews, Progressive and Orthodox. It would be difficult to be an Orthodox Jew.’ 

‘I enjoyed learning about the Challah bread shared on the Shabbat. It sounds like a good idea to have a day of rest.’

‘I liked the songs that we learnt to celebrate the Shabbat in the morning and evening.’

RE gives students valuable insights into the diverse beliefs & opinions held by people today. It helps with their own personal development & supports an understanding of the spiritual, moral, social & cultural questions that surface again & again in their lives.