Intent
At Rutherford House School, we believe that Religious Education (RE) is a vital part of fostering understanding, respect, and empathy for the diverse world in which we live. Our inclusive RE curriculum provides students with the opportunity to explore a wide range of religious and non-religious beliefs, promoting religious literacy, cultural diversity, and respect for all perspectives. We aim to equip children with the skills to critically engage with different worldviews, enhancing their understanding of others and their place in the world. Through this, we support the development of British Values, encouraging mutual respect, tolerance, and an appreciation for diversity. At the same time, we encourage connections between our own values (respect, resilience, reflection, partnership, ambition and enthusiasm) and understanding how these complement each other.
We understand that, as parents, you may have questions or concerns about what is taught in RE. We want to assure you that RE lessons are designed to be inclusive and respectful of all beliefs. To help you gain insight into the RE curriculum, we share information about what is taught through our newsletters, school website, and class updates, providing transparency and open communication about our approach to RE education. We also organize visits to places of worship to enhance learning. Parents have the option to request that their child be excused from all or part of RE lessons, should they wish. If you are considering this, we encourage you to contact a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to arrange a discussion. We are happy to talk through any concerns you may have and work together to ensure that your child’s education aligns with your values. Since opening, no child has been withdrawn from RE at Rutherford House school as we have designed the curriculum to support inclusivity, respect and celebrate all beliefs.
While we encourage full participation in the RE curriculum, we will respect your wishes and are happy to accommodate requests for partial withdrawal if needed. If you wish to discuss specific religious topics that may be a concern, we are more than happy to meet with you to understand your views and ensure a positive and inclusive educational experience for your child.
Implementation
Our curriculum follows the Agreed Syllabus of Religious Education developed by Wandsworth. At Rutherford House School, it has been agreed that, having taken into consideration the requirements and guidelines presented in the Agreed Syllabus, the following religions have been selected for study:
- Christianity
- Islam
- Hinduism
- Judaism
- Buddhism
- Sikhism
We value the religious background of all members of the school community and hope that this will encourage individuals to share their own experiences with others freely. All religions and their communities are treated with respect and sensitivity and we value the links, which are, and can be made between, home, school and the local community.
We are lucky to be able to visit a different place of worship every year and have members of our school community visit and carry out assemblies. Furthermore, celebrations are also recognised within school, for example, Chinese New Year lunch. We acknowledge that each religion studied can contribute to the education of all our pupils. We promote teaching Religious Education that stresses open enquiry and first hand experiences wherever possible for both staff and children.
Impact
The children at Rutherford House School enjoy learning about other religions, they understand why some may follow a religion while others choose not to. Learning about the beliefs and practices helps children to develop their understanding of the religions and worldviews, which are shaping our world today. We understand children need to be confident in their beliefs and values so that they can respect and show compassion and empathy to other faiths and ways of life.
