Religions and World Views

At Hindon CE VA Primary School we teach Religion and Worldviews in order to help prepare students to understand and confidently take their place in an increasingly complex world. Through a multi–disciplinary approach that promotes deep thinking and meaningful dialogue, we aim to teach children to think like a theologian, a social scientist and a philosopher and to ask big questions of themselves to help them develop their own worldview. As a result, RW at our school, is a vital part of our students’ journey towards becoming thoughtful, informed and respectful citizens.

We aim to:

• • Develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the beliefs and practices of a wide range of Christians and people of other principal world religions, and non-religious worldviews in our local, national and wider global community.
  • Enable pupils to explain how beliefs and practices can inform and change the way people see the world and the way they live and treat others.
  • Help pupils to develop their own sense of identity and belonging.
  • Help pupils to gain an understanding of differences held within a religious or non-religious worldview and of the similarities of beliefs and practices held in common by people within and across traditions.
  • Equip pupils to be sensitive to others’ beliefs, be able to express their own views well, be open-minded and respectful, show curiosity and have the skills to ask appropriate questions when meeting people different to themselves.
  • Recognise and build on children’s prior learning, opinions and experiences, provide first-hand learning experiences and encourage children to develop their thinking in the three key strands of RW (theology, philosophy and the social sciences) whilst exploring and enriching their own beliefs and values.
  • Develop spirituality.

Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)

At Hindon Primary School, Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) is central to developing confident, resilient and empathetic learners. Using SCARF as the basis of our PSHE curriculum, we equip pupils with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to make safe, informed decisions, manage their wellbeing and build positive relationships throughout their lives. The intent of our PSHE curriculum is to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain so that they lead safe, healthy and fulfilling lives.

In our small, mixed-age classes, lessons are delivered flexibly and are carefully differentiated to meet pupils’ developmental needs and reflect the context of our school community. Teaching approaches include discussion, role-play and reflection, enabling pupils to explore ideas in a supportive and inclusive environment. The curriculum follows a spiral approach, revisiting and building on key themes over time:

• Families and Relationships
• Health and Wellbeing
• Safety and the Changing Body
• Citizenship
• Economic Wellbeing
• Transition

As pupils progress through the school, learning is carefully sequenced and builds systematically to develop self-awareness, responsibility and understanding of their role in society. Key knowledge, skills and vocabulary are revisited over time, enabling pupils to deepen understanding and apply learning with increasing confidence and independence. PSHE promotes emotional resilience, positive relationships, inclusion and safeguarding. Pupils learn to recognise unsafe situations, identify trusted adults and know how to seek help, contributing to a strong culture of safeguarding. The curriculum meets statutory requirements for Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE); further detail is available in our RSHE policy.

The PSHE curriculum actively promotes British Values, including respect, tolerance, democracy, the rule of law and individual liberty, and supports pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development. It is inclusive and reflects a wide range of families, relationships and lived experiences, promoting equality, respect and mutual understanding. PSHE is closely linked with other areas of the curriculum, including RE and Worldviews, and is further reinforced through assemblies and whole-school events.

Teachers use discussion, reflection and observation to check pupils’ understanding and inform future teaching, ensuring learning meets pupils’ needs. As a result, pupils demonstrate positive attitudes to learning, respectful behaviour and an increasing ability to manage emotions and relationships effectively.

By placing PSHE at the heart of our curriculum, we aim to nurture happy, healthy and responsible individuals who are well prepared for the next stage of their education and for life beyond school.