At William De Yaxley, Religious Education is taught as a discrete subject which helps to develop children’s knowledge, understanding and awareness of the main religions represented in the local area and across the country. Religious Education is taught to help pupils make sense of different religions and to appreciate the influence it can have on people’s lives even if they do not hold religious beliefs themselves. Children develop an understanding of religious traditions and to appreciate the cultural differences in Britain today.

Links are made at relevant times of the year with religious festivals, for example Christmas, Easter, Eid, Diwali etc. RE is also delivered through daily collective worship in which key themes are explored and discussed.

We use the ‘Understanding Christianity’ syllabus for the teaching of Christianity, along with ‘The Emmanuelle Project’ which focuses on the teaching of other religions.  We believe this gives children a tolerance and acceptance of other people’s beliefs and cultures and encourages respect for those holding different beliefs to their own.

We have strong links with St Peter’s Church, Yaxley and the diocese of Ely. Throughout the year we have visitors in school from the local community to deliver collective worship to the children.

Religious education provokes challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong, and what it means to be human. RE can also make important contributions to other parts of the school curriculum such as citizenship, personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE education), the humanities, education for sustainable development and others. It offers opportunities for personal reflection and spiritual development, deepening the understanding of the significance of religion in the lives of others – individually, communally and cross-culturally.

“High aspirations, exemplary levels of care and nurture of each 

individual, both adult and child.” SIAMS report 2017

“RE makes a good contribution to pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the impact of religion and belief on people’s lives and how it shapes their actions and concerns.” SIAMS 2017