A broad and balanced programme of RE will reflect three key areas. First, it will include a study of the key beliefs and practices of religions and other world views, including those represented in West Yorkshire. Secondly, it will provide opportunities to explore key religious concepts and common human questions of meaning, purpose and value, often called ‘ultimate’ questions. Thirdly, it will enable pupils to investigate how beliefs affect moral decisions and identity, exploring both diversity and shared human values. 

Key Stage One 

Teaching and learning should be focused around Christianity and Islam, alongside understanding of non-religious approaches to life. Aspects of other faiths may be included as appropriate, such as teaching about specific festivals or rituals. As part of investigating the beliefs and practices of religions and other world views, pupils should be taught to:

• Recall and name different beliefs and practices, including prayer, worship, festivals, rituals
and ways of life, in order to find out about the meanings behind them

• Retell and suggest meanings for some religious and moral stories, exploring and discussing
sacred writings and sources of wisdom and recognising the traditions from which they come

• Recognise some ways that people express beliefs and belonging through prayer, worship,
symbols and actions, appreciating some similarities between communities.

Key Stage Two 

At key stage 2, teaching and learning should build on the KS1 focus around Christianity and Islam, and be extended to the study of Judaism and At key stage 2, teaching and learning should build on the KS1 focus around Christianity and Islam, and be extended to the study of Judaism and Sikhism, alongside developing understanding of nonreligious approaches to life. Aspects of other faiths may be included as appropriate, such as teaching about a specific concept, festival or practice. 

As part of investigating the beliefs and practices of religions and other world views, pupils should be taught to:

• Describe and understand links between stories and other aspects of the communities they
are investigating, responding thoughtfully to beliefs and teachings that arise from them

• Describe and make connections between different features of the religions and other world
views, discovering more about prayer, celebrations, worship, pilgrimages and the rituals
which mark important points in life.