At Byker Primary School, we know religion and beliefs inform our values and are reflected in what we say and how we behave. RE is an important subject in itself, developing an individual’s knowledge and understanding of the religions and beliefs which form part of contemporary society. 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. It can develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Christianity, of other principal religions, other religious traditions and worldviews that offer answers to questions such as these. 
RE also contributes to pupils’ personal development and well-being and to community cohesion by promoting mutual respect and tolerance in a diverse society.

The teaching and implementation of the R.E. curriculum at Byker Primary School is based on the Newcastle LEA Agreed Syllabus for RE (2020).

We recognise the variety of religious and non-religious families from which our pupils come. We welcome and celebrate this diversity, are sensitive to the home background of each child and work to ensure that all pupils feel and are included in our R.E. programme.

We acknowledge the importance of pupils’ all-round personal development and the leading role that R.E. plays in contributing to the spiritual, moral social and cultural elements in particular. We affirm the equality of importance of the twin aims of R.E. as expressed in the agreed syllabus and teach to these in a balanced way, ensuring that the ‘affective’ dimension of R.E. is addressed. This Scheme of Work provides a model for teaching and learning in Religious Education from EYFS through to Year 6.

The locally agreed syllabus for RE aims to ensure that all pupils:

• know about and understand a range of religions and world views.
• are able to express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and world views.
• acquire and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and world views.