It is a legal requirement that all UK schools teach religious education but it is up to each individual area in the UK to agree a syllabus.  This Government approach allows for regional need, flexibility and diversity to be addressed.  At Titchfield Primary School we use Hampshire County Council’s agreed Living Difference IV curriculum. This document is reviewed at least every five years and Version 4 has just been launched.

The Living Difference (LD) is broadly divided into 3 key areas.  These are;

• Concepts that are common to ALL people such as specialness & celebration.  These concepts are generally studied by Early Years and Key Stage 1 children although they are sometimes referred to in more advanced ways further up the School.
• Concepts that are shared by many religions, generally school years 3-6
• and Concepts that are distinctive to particular religions.

The LD curriculum focusses on the experiences of children and their world.  As a subject, Religious Education provides a rich and wide range of discussion opportunities and experiences.  In turn this gives children opportunities to develop concepts and skills that will help them to make sense of their own experiences and beliefs and to understand the beliefs and practices of faith communities through open and fair minded enquiry.

At Titchfield Primary we thread these complex areas in different ways;

• Through children’s spiritual development the children gain personal insights from their experiences, enabling them to reflect on the significance of their learning and connect it to themselves, other people, society and the environment. 
• Through their moral development the children begin to explore issues of truth, justice and trust.  They explore moral choices of family, friends and the media and how society is influenced.
•  Through their social development the children consider how religious beliefs lead to particular actions. 
• Through their cultural development the children learn a religious perspective using literature, the arts and religious objects from differing cultures.

The key approaches for teaching RE at Titchfield Primary aim to develop successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and develop into confident individuals who make future responsible citizens.  RE is embedded within the STRIVE values of our School and within the British values of democracy, mutual respect and tolerance.   The attainment of children is based on how well they engage, interpret and respond to a variety of concepts, beliefs and practices. Lessons are highly practical, involving speaking and listening to other children, drama, dialogue, discussion, drawing and a variety of written and sorting activities.

Religious Education at Titchfield Primary School is a vibrant and philosophical opportunity for children to discuss the world around them whilst investigating a concept.  Please take a look at our overview and skills planning to support your child further!