RE at GJS
At Greasby Junior School, we welcome children from all faiths, backgrounds and cultures. We celebrate our differences and actively promote respect for the views, beliefs and traditions of others. Religious Education plays a central role in helping pupils understand the diverse world in which they live, and in developing thoughtful, open-minded and empathetic young people.
RE is taught in accordance with the Wirral Agreed Syllabus. While the curriculum is multi-faith, it has a predominantly Christian emphasis and is designed to be fully accessible and meaningful for children of all religious backgrounds, as well as those with no religious affiliation. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from RE or from collective worship, as outlined in our policy.
Our RE curriculum develops pupils’ knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and world views, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism and Humanism. Across Key Stage 2, children explore key beliefs, practices, stories, celebrations, moral teachings and ways of life. Units are structured around clear substantive concepts such as belief, authority, community, rights and responsibilities, diversity and ethics. Pupils learn how religious and non-religious world views address important questions about meaning, purpose and human experience.
Alongside gaining knowledge, pupils also develop disciplinary thinking. They learn how to ask meaningful questions, compare and analyse viewpoints, interpret religious texts and stories, consider different expressions of belief, and reflect on the impact of faith on individuals and communities. These skills support pupils in forming reasoned opinions, recognising complexity and understanding that people’s beliefs shape their actions and identities.
Assemblies are an important part of school life. These gatherings provide opportunities for reflection, shared values, celebration and community. We also welcome the A-Team from our local church twice each half term to deliver faith-based assemblies, giving pupils insight into lived Christian belief and offering a broader understanding of religious perspectives within the local community.
Religious Education contributes significantly to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. It promotes critical thinking, respectful debate, empathy and awareness of diversity. RE supports literacy through questioning, discussion, reading and evaluative writing, and helps pupils develop cultural capital by deepening their understanding of different world views and the role of religion in society.
Through our RE curriculum, pupils gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to engage confidently and respectfully with the beliefs and experiences of others, preparing them to become informed, reflective and compassionate citizens in an ever-changing world.
Please note: Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of the RE curriculum. Please see your child’s class teacher if you wish to withdraw.
