Religious Education

In accordance with legal requirements, R.E. is provided at Holy Trinity Rosehill as part of each child’s entitlement to a broad and balanced education contributing to their spiritual, social, cultural and moral development. As Holy Trinity Rosehill is a voluntary Aided Church School, R.E. is governed by the 1944 and 1988 Education Acts and by the Trust Deeds of the school. However, the following sections do not apply to Voluntary Aided Schools i.e. Holy Trinity Rosehill:

“Those sections of the 1988 Education act which refer to the need for R.E. to reflect the fact that religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian, whilst taking into account of the teaching practices of the other principle religions represented in “Great Britain” or for R.E. to be “non-denominational.”

The R.E. at Holy Trinity Rosehill Primary School is taught in accordance with the principles and practices of the Church of England as stated in Trust Deeds. The school follows the requirements of the Durham Diocesan R.E. Syllabus for Church Aided Schools which has been adopted by the governing body. R.E. has a central place in the basic curriculum here at Holy Trinity Rosehill, it is taught as one of the core subjects, contributing to the ethos of the school.

The Aims of R.E. from the Durham Diocesan Syllabus

To help pupils to develop a knowledge and understanding of religion and faith.
To further pupils’ personal growth and development through the study of beliefs and values of Christianity and other faiths.
To contribute towards pupils’ experience of Christianity as a living faith.

The Aims of R.E. at Holy Trinity Rosehill Primary School

To introduce the children to ideas and experiences of religious beliefs and practices.
To lay the foundation for future understanding of religious beliefs and practices.
To develop an understanding of the beliefs, practices and institutions of Christianity and to give the children a knowledge of the Bible.
To broaden and develop the child’s knowledge and understanding of religious beliefs and practices in Great Britain today, in particular Judaism and Hinduism.
To allow pupils to explore their own beliefs and values in relation to those of others.
To develop an awareness of the meaning of individuality and the value of people and relationships.
To develop investigative, reflective and social skills.
To foster positive attitudes towards others, their beliefs and values.
To encourage the appreciation of the variety of experiences of life and how these may be interpreted.

Allocation of Time
As a Church Aided School, at least 80% of R.E. teaching time is to be devoted to Christianity. The Durham Diocesan Syllabus suggests studying two world faiths, so here at Holy Trinity Rosehill the children will study Judaism and Hinduism as main R.E. units of work.