RE plays an important part in promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
of pupils, making a unique contribution to their spiritual development in particular.
At its heart is the intention to enable children and young people to become “religiously educated”
in order to face the demands of the contemporary world. What might a “religiously educated person” be? Some possible responses include someone who…
• has a depth of understanding and insight into religion and belief, and their impact in the lives of believers and society, including the implications for their own lives;
• is confident and thoughtful about, and able to express, their own beliefs;
• acts in accordance with their beliefs;
• is interested in, and respectful towards, the beliefs of others;
• is interested in building up their understanding of different religions and beliefs;
• is able to think for themselves and recognise where others may be trying to influence them;
• continues to explore the questions of meaning that life throws up in light of the insights of faith
Giving the opportunities for encountering people of different beliefs and lifestyles, RE also has a key role to play in fostering social cohesion . As well as being “religiously educated”, RE helps pupils to become “skilled cultural navigators”, able to handle the differences of faith and belief around
them, as well as establish their own sense of identity and belonging.
At the root of RE’s significant contribution to pupil development, are the specific skills and attitudes
that are at the heart of the process of teaching and learning in this subject. In the process of exploring religion and belief, RE seeks to develop the ability of pupils to:
• Investigate
• Interpret
• Reflect
• Evaluate
• Empathise
• Analyse
• Synthesise
• Apply
• Express
• Discern
RE encourages the development of:
• Self-awareness
• Respect for all
• Open-mindedness
• Appreciation and wonder