Schools have to teach RE but parents can withdraw their children for all or part of the lessons. Pupils can choose to withdraw themselves once they’re 18.

Local councils are responsible for deciding the RE syllabus.

At Fair Oak Junior School, we follow the Hampshire Living Difference Religious Education curriculum. This provides a framework for exploring worldviews, beliefs, and values, encouraging students to develop understanding, respect, and critical thinking. It focuses on the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of learners while fostering an appreciation for diverse religious and non-religious perspectives.

The curriculum is structured around a model that promotes:

• Enquiry and Engagement: Students explore significant concepts from various religious and philosophical traditions, linking them to their own experiences.
• Understanding and Reflection: Through discussion and analysis, students deepen their understanding of beliefs, practices, and ethical issues.
• Application and Expression: Learners express their insights creatively and thoughtfully, relating concepts to contemporary life and their personal values.

By examining core ideas such as belonging, community, and symbols, students gain a broad perspective on the role of religion and worldviews in shaping individual and societal values. This curriculum helps students build skills for empathy, dialogue, and respectful engagement with others in an increasingly diverse world.

Within each unit, children will study a concept using the cycle of enquiry as seen below.