At NPS our pupils understand the core skills needed to learn in Our World with the use of the school curriculum character – Ola Our World.  This character is regularly used to encourage pupils to reflect on the key skills, attitudes and knowledge needed when learning in Our World.

We are in school to 'Acquire' the knowledge and skills that will allow us to 'Achieve' our aims and go on to what we 'Aspire' to do.

Our aspiration for every learner (intent):

Our Religious Education curriculum is designed to engage and enthuse learners. We believe that it is an essential area of learning which ensures that pupils are well prepared for life in a world where there are a multitude of viewpoints. We enable pupils to make their own informed decisions and have the confidence to voice their views and opinions. This subject area promotes the importance of diversity and inclusion, regardless of background, personal beliefs and practices.

Through Our World lessons, we aim to develop pupils’ understanding of Sikhism and world faiths by exploring their commonality and celebrating diversity. We aim to nurture pupils’ awareness of diversity as well as sensitivity to the questions and challenges that different views and cultures can present. We seek to create an environment in which our pupils are able to address challenging questions that can be responded to within a safe but challenging context. 

All learning is linked to our school SHARE values through service to others, humility, achievement, respect and equality. Such values are at the forefront of all learning and embedded within and beyond the classroom. 

A holistic approach to Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development, British Values and Community Cohesion is embedded within our curriculum, continually preparing our pupils for future life experiences.

How we support pupils to acquire this learning (implementation):

Our curriculum is planned and sequenced to develop deep, long lasting learning which our pupils can use today, tomorrow and for the rest of their lives.

During each Key Stage, pupils are taught the knowledge, skills and understanding through learning about Sikhism, with strong links to other religions. Each unit of work identifies prior learning and builds upon this demonstrating clear progression of learning. 

Our World is taught in block units based upon Sikh teachings, with planned links to other faiths which progresses year on year. Links are also made to specific religious festivals taking place or other cross curricular topics being taught. Pupils gain a deeper understanding of the religion being studied through the use of high quality resources and artefacts.

The following skills are used, in order to strengthen the skills and deepen the understanding and knowledge taught: investigating, reflecting, recalling and retelling, exploring, discussing and empathising.  

Attitudes which are fundamental to RE are: curiosity and wonder, commitment, fairness, respect, self- understanding, open-mindedness, critical mindedness and enquiry. These work alongside our SHARE values and British Values  which are embedded across the curriculum. 

Visits to places of worship and visitors representing different religions provide a variety of first-hand experiences for our children, to spark their interest and relate new learning to their own experiences.

How we measure achievements (impact):

Our Religious Education curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression. Pupils make progress by knowing more, remembering more and being able to do more. They need to transfer and embed key concepts into their long-term memory and apply them fluently. 

We measure the impact of our curriculum in the following ways:

• Pupils demonstrate a positive attitude towards people of any religion and show an understanding of cultural beliefs different to their own.
• They demonstrate respectful behaviour to all and this is transferable outside of school in the local and wider community and beyond.
• Summative assessment of pupils’ understanding of each topic and linked vocabulary, each half term.
• Discussions with pupils about their learning (pupil voice).
• Exploring ‘big questions’ about the world around them and making meaningful decisions, sharing views and opinions.
• Demonstrating knowledge and independently making links between religions.
• Holistic learning that enables pupils to become critical and open minded individuals.
• Topic based learning in KS2 to independently explore cultures and ways of life.
• Pupils develop a strong sense of well being, ethical standards and personal happiness.