Overview
Our religious education curriculum is carefully designed to ensure that all pupils become accepting, mindful and inquisitive learners with a strong understanding of the diverse world in which they live. Learning is knowledge-rich and purposefully sequenced to build understanding over time, enabling pupils to revisit, deepen and connect their learning as they progress through school.
Through the study of religious education, pupils gain insight into a range of religions and worldviews, developing respect for different beliefs while making meaningful connections with their own values and experiences. High-quality teaching encourages pupils to ask thoughtful questions about the world around them and supports them in exploring what it means to live in a diverse society.
Learning begins in the Early Years, where key festivals and celebrations are used to introduce children to Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, alongside the understanding that some people hold no religious beliefs. From Year 1 to Year 6, learning is organised into three progressive cycles: exploring religious teachings and wisdom, understanding how beliefs shape family and community life, and examining beliefs in action in the wider world.
The curriculum makes purposeful links with the local community, including learning about and visiting local places of worship such as churches, mosques, synagogues and temples, and engaging with people of different beliefs. Throughout, the curriculum is inclusive and celebrates the uniqueness of every child, promoting tolerance, equality and mutual respect.
Religious education at Totley Primary School plays a key role in developing pupils’ understanding of British values and prepares them to take their place confidently and respectfully in modern Britain.
FS2 (early years)
- What it means to be Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Jewish
- Religious festivals and celebrations (e.g. Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, Eid)
- Weddings and family celebrations
- How religions celebrate key festivals
- Understanding that people have different beliefs (including none)
Year 1
- What makes a religion special? (Christianity and Hinduism)
- How Christians and Hindus celebrate as a family
- How Christians and Hindus celebrate around the world
Year 2
- What makes a religion special? (Islam and Judaism)
- How Jews and Muslims celebrate as a family
- How Jews and Muslims celebrate around the world
Year 3
- What can we learn from religious stories?
- Where, how and why do people pray in Sheffield?
- What can we learn from great leaders and inspiring examples today?
Year 4
- How did religions begin? (Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam)
- How did the Church of England begin?
- How do people express their religion on pilgrimage?
Year 5
- What do sacred texts say about the origins of life?
- Are there expectations of a person following a religion or belief? (Islam and Christianity)
- What do different religions think about life after death?
Year 6
- How do beliefs about death shape the way people live their lives? (Islam and Judaism)
- What contributions do religions make to local life in Sheffield?
- How do religions and beliefs respond to the importance of the environment?