“Religious Education at Kader Academy strengthens relationships and deepens identity, as pupils explore different beliefs, develop respect for others and gain a clearer understanding of who they are in our diverse world.”
Aims
At our school, we believe that diversity is our strength. Our vision for Religious Education reflects our diverse community and is rooted in the belief that there is one world with many faiths and worldviews, united through shared human values.
Guided by the principles of Middlesbrough SACRE and adapted to reflect our community, our curriculum encourages pupils to explore important questions about meaning and purpose, beliefs about God and ultimate reality, questions of right and wrong and what it means to be human.
Our RE curriculum provides mirrors and windows: mirrors that allow pupils to reflect on their own identities, beliefs and experiences, and windows that open up understanding of the beliefs, traditions and lived experiences of others. Through real-life experiences, dialogue and engagement with sources of wisdom, pupils learn to question, interpret and thoughtfully evaluate different viewpoints.
Through this learning, pupils develop empathy, curiosity and the confidence to express their own ideas while respecting the views of others. We want our pupils to leave our school as thoughtful, informed and compassionate individuals, ready to take their place in a diverse society where there is often more that unites us than divides us.
Approach
Middlesbrough SACRE
Our Religious Education curriculum is guided by the Middlesbrough SACRE Agreed Syllabus, ensuring full coverage of the major world religions and worldviews, including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism and Sikhism, alongside opportunities to explore non-religious worldviews. This provides a balanced, inclusive approach that reflects both the national context and our local community.
In addition to following the agreed syllabus, we have developed additional units tailored to our school community, enabling us to reflect the backgrounds, experiences and interests of our pupils. This ensures that our RE curriculum is both relevant and meaningful, while still maintaining strong coverage of key religious knowledge. The Six Big Ideas of RE
Our curriculum is carefully sequenced around the ‘Six Big Ideas of Religious Education‘, allowing children to revisit and deepen their understanding over time. This ensures learning is progressive, connected and meaningful.
- Believing – investigating key beliefs and big philosophical questions
- Belonging – understanding identity, community and what it means to be part of a faith or group
- Teaching – exploring sacred texts, stories and teachings and how they guide believers
- Practising – learning about worship, prayer and religious actions in everyday life
- Celebrating – discovering festivals, rituals and sacred times across different religions
- Living – reflecting on values, moral decision-making and how beliefs shape actions
These concepts are revisited across year groups so that knowledge builds over time, helping pupils make links between different religions and ideas.
Kader’s RE curriculum is inline with the National Curriculum guidance.
SMSC
At Kader Academy, Religious Education plays a vital role in promoting pupils’ Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development. Through RE, our children are encouraged to reflect deeply on who they are, what they believe and how their values shape their sense of self. They explore questions of right and wrong through religious and ethical teachings, helping them to develop a strong moral compass and make positive choices.
RE also supports pupils in building and maintaining respectful, empathetic relationships, as they learn to understand and appreciate different perspectives, faiths and cultures. Through discussion and shared learning experiences, children develop the confidence to express their ideas while valuing the views of others. In addition, by exploring how beliefs can inspire people’s actions and life choices, pupils are encouraged to develop aspiration and ambition, recognising their potential to make a positive difference in their communities and beyond.
British Values
Our Religious Education curriculum promotes British Values in a way that is meaningful, inclusive and rooted in our school community. Through high-quality discussion and reflection, pupils learn to express their views with confidence while listening carefully and respectfully to others, developing a strong understanding of democracy in action. They explore the importance of rules, responsibility and fairness within both religious traditions and wider society, reinforcing the value of the rule of law.
RE supports pupils in developing a secure sense of who they are, helping them to understand their own beliefs and identity while appreciating the diversity of others. Through learning about different faiths and worldviews, children build positive relationships based on respect, understanding and acceptance. We also encourage pupils to be ambitious for their future, recognising that their attitudes, values and choices can shape the kind of citizens they become. In this way, RE prepares our pupils to contribute positively to a diverse, modern Britain.
Outcomes
At Kader Academy, our Religious Education curriculum ensures that pupils develop secure knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and worldviews. They learn how beliefs influence people’s lives and are able to make connections between beliefs, practices and values, drawing on their learning across different units. Pupils become confident in expressing their ideas, asking thoughtful questions and engaging in respectful discussion using appropriate vocabulary.
Through RE, children develop a clear sense of identity and an understanding of their place within a diverse community. They learn how to build positive relationships, showing empathy, respect and an appreciation of different perspectives. Pupils are encouraged to think deeply about their own values and to approach differences with curiosity and understanding.
As pupils move beyond Kader Academy, we want them to be confident, reflective and ambitious individuals who are prepared for life in modern Britain. They will leave with the ability to engage thoughtfully with the world around them, to respect and value diversity, and to make positive contributions to their communities and future lives.
