Curriculum Intent
At Ovingham Middle School, we celebrate diversity and offer a welcoming and inclusive environment for all pupils. We believe that Religious Education provides an opportunity to promote and foster awareness of cultural differences within society. Our principal aim is to help children to mature in relation to their own patterns of belief and behaviour through exploring religious beliefs and practices and related human experiences.
Our core HEART values underpin all that we do. Pupils are encouraged to reflect with honesty about concepts and beliefs in order to make informed responses to others’ values, purpose, choices and commitments relating to different faiths. Excellence is achieved as our pupils demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the different aspects of religions studied. Pupils are taught how to make connections between key beliefs, teachings and practices using a wide range of appropriate, key vocabulary. Acceptance is a thread which permeates our entire curriculum, ensuring our children show respect for all as we challenge prejudice and stereotypes and celebrate diversity between religions, beliefs, communities and cultures. We accept that some questions cannot be answered and teach children that religion is an important source of answers to many people. We are immensely proud of the fact we have achieved the Rights Respecting School Award, and focus in detail on Article 14, ensuring that, ‘Every child has the right to think and believe what they choose and also to practise their religion, as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying their rights.” Pupils are encouraged to develop resilience while discussing their own views on some fundamental questions of identity, meaning, purpose and morality related to different faiths. Throughout their time with us, pupils have the opportunity to work individually, in pairs, in groups as well as part of a whole class, developing important teamwork skills.
NORTHUMBERLAND-Agreed-Syllabus-2022-2027
