Religious Education
At Didcot Primary Academy we follow Oxfordshire SACRE (locally agreed syllabus) using Jigsaw RE.
Jigsaw RE is an enquiry based scheme of work, covering the principal world faiths and humanism in a progressive way from Nursery to Year 6. In the early years, the learning is closely matched to Development Matters to contribute meaningfully to your child's holistic development. Throughout all enquiries, the children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural education is carefully considered.
Each enquiry lasts for a half term and starts with a 'big' question such as: 'What is the best way for a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu etc to show commitment to God?'. When the children fully understand the concept they are considering they will then move on to investigating what the people following the studied religion or worldview believe about it.
| Year Group | Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery | Communities | Celebrations Christmas and Diwali | Chinese New Year | New life Holi Easter | What makes people special | |
| Reception | What makes people special? | What is Christmas? | Celebrations | What is Easter | What can we learn from stories | What makes places special? |
| Year 1 | What do Christians believe about God? | What gifts might a Christian in my town have given Jesus? | Who is God to Jews? | Why was Jesus welcomed like a king on Palm Sunday? | Is Shabbat important to Jewish Children? | Who is God to Sikhs? |
| Year 2 | Is it possible to be kind to people all the time? | Why do Christians believe God gave Jesus to the world? | Why do Sikhs admire their gurus? | How important is it to Christians that Jesus came back after his crucifixion? | Does visiting the synagogue help Jewish children feel closer to God? | Does taking part in the Baisakhi help Sikh children feel a sense of belonging? |
| Year 3 | Does praying at regular intervals help a Muslim in their everyday lives. | Has Christmas lost its true meaning? | Could Jesus heal people? Did he perform miracles? | What is good about Good Friday? | Does completing a pilgrimage make a person a better Muslim? | Does visiting the Ganges make a person a better Santani? |
| Year 4 | What do some deities tell Santanis about God? | What is the most significant part of the nativity story for Christians today? | What is the best way for a Muslim to lead a good life? | Is forgiveness always possible for Christians? | What is the best way for a Hindu to show commitment to God? | Do people need to go to church to show they are Christians? |
| Year 5 | What is the best way for a Buddhist to show commitment to their beliefs? | Is the Christmas story true? | What is the best way for a Buddhist to live a good life? | How significant is it for Christians to believe that God intended Jesus to die? | What is the best way for a Muslim to show commitment to Allah? | What is the best way for a Christian to show commitment to God? |
| Year 6 | How is the Qur'an vital to Muslims today? | Do Christian celebrations and traditions help Christians understand who Jesus was and why he was born? | Is anything really eternal? | Is Christianity still a strong religion over 2000 years since Jesus was on Earth? | How do inspirational people impact on how Humanists live today? | Does belief in Akhirah help Muslims live a good life? |