Religious Education contributes dynamically to children and young people’s education in schools by provoking challenging questions about meaning and purpose in life, beliefs about God, ultimate reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human.

What is Religious Education?

In religious education (RE), pupils enter into a rich discourse about the religious and non-religious traditions that have shaped Great Britain and the world.

Ofsted Research Review Series, May 2021

Why do we study Religious Education?

Religious Education enables pupils to take their place within a diverse multi-religious and multi-secular society. At its best it is intellectually challenging and personally enriching. It affords pupils both the opportunity to see the religion and non-religion in the world, and the opportunity to make sense of their own place in that world.  (Ofsted Research Series May 2021)

Effective RE has a key role to play in our schools and communities. Barking and Dagenham is rich in diversity of faith, belief, language and lifestyle. RE supports pupils to explore and understand their own values and beliefs and those of others in their immediate community and beyond. A depth of knowledge, understanding and acceptance is important for personal growth and for development of a broader education. It is also crucial for the development of cohesive, tolerant and caring communities. In a London borough such as Barking and Dagenham, with its wide diversity of faith, culture and ethnicity, it is essential to have a comprehensive RE syllabus that promotes and supports these values.

Legislation in England determines:

RE is for all pupils – it is a necessary part of a ‘broad and balanced curriculum’

RE is determined locally, not nationally – a locally agree syllabus is recommended

RE is plural – the curriculum drawn up by SACRE ‘shall reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian while taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain’.

Parental right of withdrawal on the grounds they wish to provide their own religious education. This will be parents’ responsibility.

Discover the wonders of the different religions through these websites: