Our vision for Religious Education

At St Bartholomew’s, Religious Education (RE) is an integral part of our Christian vision and of helping every child to flourish. Through RE, children develop secure knowledge, curiosity and respect as they encounter Christianity, other religions and non-religious worldviews. They learn to ask thoughtful questions about belief, meaning, identity, community and how people live.

Our close relationship with St Bartholomew’s Church enriches the life of our school. RE as a subject is educational, inclusive and academically rigorous: it helps children understand people whose beliefs may be similar to, or different from, their own. It does not seek in any way to persuade children to adopt a particular faith or belief.

What do children learn?

As a Church of England school, Christianity has a central place in our RE curriculum. Children encounter Christianity as a diverse, global and living faith, exploring biblical texts, Christian beliefs and practices, and the ways Christians live today.

Children also build knowledge and understanding of a range of religious and non-religious worldviews. This helps them make sense of the multi-religious and multi-secular world in which they live, while learning to listen carefully, discuss respectfully and recognise diversity within as well as between traditions.

Across their learning, pupils develop different ways of studying religion and worldviews, including theological, philosophical and social perspectives. They also have age-appropriate opportunities to reflect on their own developing worldview and on questions of meaning and purpose.

Our Curriculum

We use the Surrey Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education 2023–2028, as recommended for Church schools in the Diocese of Guildford. The syllabus supports a coherent sequence of learning from the Early Years onwards and develops substantive knowledge, ways of knowing and personal knowledge.  We have also personalised the content to reflect the context in which our school exists.

Our provision also reflects the Church of England Statement of Entitlement for Religious Education (September 2026), which sets the minimum expectations for RE in Church of England schools.

Why teaching RE matters

High-quality RE gives children the knowledge and language to understand religion and worldviews with increasing depth. It supports them to think carefully about big questions, consider evidence and different perspectives, and communicate their own ideas with clarity and respect.

We want pupils to leave St Bartholomew’s with a rich understanding of Christianity, informed knowledge of a range of religious and non-religious worldviews, and the confidence to live well alongside others in a diverse society. To be able to make informed opinions about issues around them based on a clear understanding of potentially differing viewpoints.

Statutory Entitlement

RE is part of the statutory curriculum for pupils in state-funded schools. As a voluntary aided Church of England school, our RE provision is shaped by our religious character and trust deed, alongside the relevant Church of England and diocesan expectations.

Parents and carers have a legal right to withdraw their child from all or part of RE. We encourage any parent or carer considering withdrawal to speak with the Headteacher first, so that we can explain the aims and content of our RE curriculum and discuss the request. Please contact the school office for further information.

Further Details of our RE Curriculum

Our long-term plan which can be accessed by the link below shows how knowledge and understanding build as children move through the school. Further information about the Surrey Agreed Syllabus and the Church of England Statement of Entitlement can be found through the Diocese of Guildford https://www.cofeguildford.org.uk/religious-education-in-church-schools and National Society for Education https://www.nse.org.uk/ websites.

Religious Education Story

RE in Church Schools in the Diocese of Guildford - A guide for parents and carers