Religious Education
 
At St Margaret’s we use the Brighton and Hove Council agreed syllabus. We have taken the themes from B&H curriculum guidance and used the units to fit in with our wider school curriculum.
Intent
 
The RE curriculum is structured around purposeful themes that guide learning across each year group. Pupils are given rich opportunities to engage deeply with religious education through immersive, first-hand experiences. These experiences help them build a secure understanding of key concepts while encouraging personal reflection on their own values and beliefs, supporting them to reach their full potential.
 
Carefully designed in collaboration with skilled teachers and whole-school planning, the curriculum nurtures children’s natural curiosity and fosters their knowledge, understanding, and respect for a wide range of religious and non-religious worldviews—both within the local community and globally—with a particular emphasis on Christianity. We aim to provide a high-quality, inclusive, and coherent religious education for all pupils, enabling them to:
  • Engage in systematic enquiry into significant human questions that religions and worldviews address.
  • Develop knowledge and understanding of a range of religious and non-religious worldviews.
  • Cultivate respect, tolerance, and dialogue in a diverse society.
  • Reflect on their own beliefs, values, and experiences while appreciating those of others.
  • Promote spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development and contribute to pupils’ personal growth.
The themes within our RE curriculum are closely aligned with the school’s core values, Kindness, Pride and Respect as well as our learning skills: perseverance, creativity, focus, making connections and teamwork. These values and skills serve as a foundation for inspiring pupils and are embedded throughout our planning and assessment. From the early years through to Year 6, children are encouraged to demonstrate these attributes as they explore religious education.
 
Our staff are committed to fostering metacognitive approaches that support pupils in developing systematic knowledge and understanding of a wide range of religious and non-religious worldviews. This enables children to shape their own ideas, values, and sense of identity.
 
At St Margaret’s, we offer a broad and inclusive RE curriculum that promotes respect, tolerance, and understanding of different faiths. Our aim is to deliver RE that is accessible, engaging, and memorable for all learners, helping every child to thrive. Through the exploration of diverse religious themes and traditions, pupils become reflective, independent, and responsible members of society—able to ask big questions about life and show respect for their own beliefs and those of others.
 
Implementation
 
At St Margaret’s, children begin their journey in Religious Education during the Early Years by exploring celebrations and festivals. These themes are thoughtfully integrated with other areas of the curriculum, including PSHE, Understanding the World, Expressive Arts and Design, Literacy, and Maths. This cross-curricular approach helps children build foundational knowledge and curiosity about religion and belief.
 
The understanding gained in the Early Years lays the groundwork for Year 1, where pupils begin to explore deeper concepts such as belonging and investigate questions like, “Why is Jesus a special person for Christians?” Each year builds on the last, with teachers using prior knowledge, assessments, and collaborative planning to ensure progression and continuity. Pupils apply their growing understanding as skills, developing both knowledge and personal insight.
 
Long-term and medium-term planning provides clarity and consistency across the school, while teachers adapt their delivery to meet the needs of individual classes. At St Margaret’s, RE curriculum mapping ensures that all major religions are covered, in line with the Brighton & Hove Agreed Syllabus and its “Breadth of Study” guidance.
 
Meaningful experiences are central to effective RE learning. Each year group has opportunities to visit places of worship and engage with religious leaders. The school also hosts special religious and charitable events and assemblies to reinforce key themes. Teachers aim to activate prior learning through hands-on experiences, artefacts, art, and other creative resources that bring RE to life.
 
The subject leader maintains a clear overview of RE across Early Years, KS1, and KS2 by gathering pupil voice and reviewing children’s work. These insights help teachers understand progression and inform future planning. Assessment and conferencing opportunities also support the development of pupils’ working memory and help embed learning into long-term memory—key priorities in our curriculum design.
 
Impact
 
At St Margaret’s, our Religious Education curriculum fosters a lifelong love of learning and a deep respect for diverse beliefs and communities. Through a carefully sequenced and inclusive programme of study, children develop a growing understanding of religious and non-religious worldviews, enabling them to engage in thoughtful and balanced conversations about faith, identity, and values.
 
As pupils progress through each key stage, they demonstrate increasing knowledge of different ways of life and belief systems, both locally and globally. Our curriculum supports them in making meaningful connections between their learning and the Christian values that underpin our school ethos.
 
The impact of our RE provision is evident in the way children reflect on their own beliefs, show empathy towards others, and confidently explore big questions about life. They become respectful, independent thinkers who are equipped to contribute positively to their communities and the wider world.
 
Through high-quality teaching, enriching experiences such as visits to places of worship, and opportunities to meet faith leaders, our pupils gain a deeper appreciation of the role religion plays in society. This helps them to develop a strong sense of identity, belonging, and responsibility.
Our commitment to the Brighton & Hove Agreed Syllabus ensures that all pupils receive a broad and balanced RE education that promotes tolerance, curiosity, and critical thinking—key skills for thriving in a diverse and interconnected world.