Religious Education

The “big questions” we ask reflect the school’s core values of Endurance, Caring, Koinonia (Fellowship and Community), Forgiveness and Friendship.

Curriculum overview

As a CofE school, Religious Education is a core subject. Our children have an R.E. lesson each week, and also participate in collective worship. Christianity is the main faith studied, with a third of the lessons dedicated to other faiths.

We have a commitment to “learning from religion” – an interaction with, and celebration of, different belief systems. Children are assessed half-termly according to a London Diocese approved “ladder” of transferable skills:

Step 1: Name, recall, recognise and talk about questions and experiences

Step 2: Retell, respond sensitively to religious material

Step 3: Describe, make links between religions and your own experience

Step 4: Show understanding of beliefs, use religious vocabulary, apply ideas for yourself, describe what influences you and others

Step 5: Explain why people might act as they do, explain similar and different viewpoints, express your own views, relate religion to life.

St Michael’s Church, Highgate

We have strong links with St. Michael’s Church and join the community each term. Year 4 lead a service for the celebration of Michaelmass in September, Year 5 lead the Christmas service, Year 3 lead an Easter service while Early Years and Key Stage 1 each hold Nativity performances in the school. Year 6 are celebrated by the whole community in the Leavers’ Service at the end of the school year.

Collective worship

Developing spiritual awareness and a meaningful prayer life is at the heart of our commitment to collective worship. Assemblies are led either by the children themselves or jointly with a member of staff. The prayers used in collective worship are written by the children.

While our daily acts of worship are Christian in character, they are accessible to those of all faiths and beliefs. Children are encouraged to reflect on their own spirituality through prayer writing and daily meditation.

R.E. pupil team

Our children are directly involved in how religion is taught through the R.E. pupil team. Each half term, members are chosen from each of the classes to represent the children’s views about R.E. in the school.

Recent pupil-led changes have been to increase the profile of other religions in assembly and continue to invite parents in to talk about their faith.

The children excel at art-based expressions of R.E. and the Christian ethos of the school emanates from the displays both in the classrooms and throughout the public spaces.

Online Collective Worship During Lockdown

Even though we were not able to meet in school and at church we continued our collective worship through short videos. Please click on the links below.

https://vimeo.com/554701684
https://vimeo.com/554649789
https://vimeo.com/554699932
https://vimeo.com/554706712
https://vimeo.com/554700560

For more videos please go to the News section and click on videos.