R.E. at Frisby

At Frisby Church of England Primary School, Religious Education (RE) is a valued and important part of our curriculum. As a Church of England school, RE supports our Christian vision and values while encouraging all pupils to explore beliefs, meaning and purpose in a thoughtful, respectful and inclusive way.

RE at Frisby is not about telling children what to think or believe. Instead, it helps pupils to understand religions and worldviews, reflect on their own ideas and values, and learn how faith and belief shape people’s lives locally, nationally and globally.

Our Statement of Entitlement

The teaching of RE at Frisby is guided by the Church of England Education Office’s Statement of Entitlement. This sets out our commitment to ensuring that every pupil:

• Learns about and understands Christianity as a diverse, global and living faith, through careful engagement with biblical texts
• Gains knowledge and understanding of a range of religions and worldviews, recognising both diversity and shared human experiences
• Explores big questions of meaning and purpose raised by life and human experience
• Understands the influence of religion on British culture and heritage, as well as on societies around the world
• Has opportunities to reflect on their own beliefs, values and ways of living

This entitlement ensures that RE at Frisby is academically rigorous, balanced and relevant, while also supporting pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

What RE Looks Like at Frisby

As a formerly Voluntary Controlled (VC) school, Frisby follows the Locally Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education, which is a statutory requirement. This syllabus ensures that RE is broad, balanced and inclusive, and reflects the religious diversity of modern Britain.

Through the syllabus and diocesan guidance, pupils will:

• Learn about Christianity and explore how Christian beliefs shape the life and values of our school
• Study other major world religions and non-religious worldviews, developing understanding and respect
• Explore religion in local, national and global contexts
• Develop key skills such as enquiry, interpretation, reflection, evaluation and respectful discussion

RE is taught using a variety of engaging approaches, including discussion, stories, artefacts, artwork, drama, reflection and, where possible, visits to places of worship or visitors from faith communities. Alongside classroom learning, we build strong links with our local churches—St Thomas of Canterbury Church and Frisby Methodist Chapel—and visit other religious communities so that children can see how beliefs are lived out in everyday life.

Opportunities for Pupils in RE

Through RE at Frisby, pupils are given rich opportunities to:

• Learn about the life and teachings of Jesus through the Gospels
• Discover the diversity within Christianity and how it is lived out around the world
• Understand the importance of freedom of religion and belief
• Engage thoughtfully with different religious and non-religious perspectives
• Reflect on their own ideas about belief, belonging, values and identity
• Take part in meaningful dialogue, listening carefully and responding respectfully to others

RE also contributes strongly to the development of British Values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance.

Teaching and Learning in RE

Our RE curriculum:

• Balances learning about religions and worldviews with learning from religions and worldviews
• Is carefully planned to ensure progression and continuity across year groups
• Includes clear learning outcomes and opportunities for assessment
• Is monitored and reviewed to ensure high-quality teaching and learning

Pupils’ progress in RE is valued and reported to parents as part of their overall learning journey.

Parents’ Right to Withdraw

We value the partnership between home and school and respect the beliefs of all families.

Parents have a legal right to withdraw their child from Religious Education, either in full or in part, on the grounds that they wish to provide their own RE. This provision will be the parents' responsibility. This right applies to all pupils and can be exercised without giving a reason. Any request for withdrawal will be granted without delay.

If parents wish, the school is happy to offer an optional discussion to explain the RE curriculum, explore any concerns and discuss practical arrangements following withdrawal. 

Our Commitment

At Frisby, Religious Education plays a vital role in helping children grow into thoughtful, respectful and reflective individuals. Through RE, we aim to support pupils of all backgrounds as they learn to understand the world, themselves and others, and as they develop the values needed to live well together.

Developing Spirituality in Primary Education

Spirituality at Frisby is defined as:
“Helping pupils and staff to develop their understanding of their place in the world and who they are.”

This means encouraging children to recognise their uniqueness, value, and connection with others. Spiritual growth happens across the curriculum, but it is also celebrated through special enrichment events.

Art and Spirituality Day with Lat Blaylock

We were delighted to welcome Lat Blaylock, editor of RE Today magazine, for an inspiring Art and Spirituality Day at Frisby CE Primary School.

The theme of the day was courageous advocacy – being “brave enough to help others.” Pupils explored this theme through art and storytelling, creating meaningful work that reflected bravery, compassion, and hope.

• KS2 pupils designed symbolic shields to represent courage and kindness.

• Class 1 and Class 2 pupils created a colourful “Tree of Hope”, filled with drawings and messages about their dreams for the future.

These creative projects encouraged children to think deeply about how they can make a difference to others and live out values of love and compassion.

Celebrating Children’s Artwork at St Thomas Church

We were thrilled that the children’s artwork was showcased at the St Thomas Church Art Exhibition. Families and the local community were warmly invited to attend, view the pupils’ inspiring creations, and enjoy seeing how art, spirituality, and courageous advocacy come together in our school.