Subject Leader: Mr Dixon

At Cheetwood Primary School, Religious Education is an exciting, meaningful and inclusive subject. RE helps children to explore different beliefs, cultures and traditions, while encouraging curiosity, respect and understanding of the world around them.

We believe RE plays a vital role in helping our pupils grow into thoughtful, respectful and open-minded individuals.

RE at Cheetwood is not just about learning from books — it is about experiencing, discussing and celebrating beliefs and traditions from around the world.

Children are encouraged to:

• Ask questions and share ideas
• Learn from one another’s experiences
• Reflect on what matters to them and others

Our lessons are engaging, inclusive and carefully planned to meet the needs of all pupils. In Key Stage 1, we use floor books to record children’s discussions, questions, photos and work, helping to show their shared learning and experiences in RE.

Celebrating Faith, Culture and Diversity

We are proud of the rich diversity within our school community and celebrate this throughout the year. Some of the ways we do this include:

Cultural Day
Children and families are invited to celebrate their heritage by coming to school in traditional cultural clothing. This is a joyful day of learning, sharing and pride in our identities.

Easter Bonnet Parade
Our Easter bonnet parade is a much-loved tradition, giving children the opportunity to explore the Christian celebration of Easter in a creative and memorable way.

Celebrating Ramadan and Eid

At Cheetwood Primary School, we are proud to recognise and celebrate Ramadan and Eid as important events for many of our pupils and families. Through Religious Education and whole-school activities, children learn about the meaning of Ramadan, including reflection, kindness, charity and community. This helps all pupils to develop an understanding, respect and appreciation for the Islamic faith.

Many of our pupils in Year 5 and Year 6 choose to take part in fasting, and we support them by ensuring they feel comfortable, respected and included throughout the school day.

During Ramadan, pupils have opportunities to:

• Learn about why Muslims fast and what Ramadan represents
• Share their own experiences and family traditions
• Take part in discussions, stories and reflective activities
• Learn about how Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated around the world
• Celebrate together as a school community and recognise the importance of diversity

These experiences help to build a strong sense of belonging, respect and cultural understanding across our school.

At Cheetwood, we:

• Value every child’s background and beliefs
• Make no assumptions about pupils’ faith or worldview
• Promote respect, understanding and open discussion

All religions and beliefs are treated with sensitivity and care, and children are encouraged to listen to and learn from one another. The religions children focus on during their time at Cheetwood are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Judaism.  

What RE looks like across the school in Spring term:

Nursery – Children will explore friendships, family celebrations, and differences between people and environments through stories and play.

Reception – Children will learn about family, friendships, special celebrations, and different countries and beliefs around the world

Year 1 – What makes some places sacred?

Year 2 – How and why do we celebrate special and sacred times?

Year 3 – Why do people pray?

Year 4 – Why are festivals important to religious communities?

Year 5 – If God is everywhere, why go to a place of worship?

Year 6 – Is it better to express your religion in arts and architecture or charity and generosity?

Through Religious Education, our pupils develop respect for others, learn about different cultures and beliefs, and gain confidence in sharing ideas and values. RE helps children make sense of the world around them and their place within it, making it a valuable and meaningful part of life at Cheetwood Primary School.