RE

At Manor Junior School, Religious Education involves pupils developing a structured understanding of religions and worldviews, viewed through the perspective of ethical living and personal reflection. Our vision statement: Motivation, Joy, Success helps us to see the meaning and purpose of our school. It gives us clear reasons that what we do benefits a larger goal.

Our school ERIC values are embedded within the Religious Education curriculum: 
- We strive to spark a sense of wonder and curiosity among our students, encouraging them to explore the world's diverse religions and worldviews with enthusiasm.
- Respect is central to our program, promoting understanding and appreciation of various beliefs.
- Inclusivity ensures that all students, regardless of their backgrounds, are able to confidently share personal worldviews and know they will be valued and heard. 
- We aim to challenge pupils through critical thinking and meaningful discussions about their own beliefs and others'.

Religious Education is taught at Manor Junior School (MJS) because it makes:
“A major contribution to the education of children and young people. At its best, it is intellectually challenging and personally enriching. It helps young people develop beliefs and values, and promotes the virtues of respect and empathy, which are important in our diverse society. It fosters civilised debate and reasoned argument and helps pupils to understand the place of religion and belief in the modern world”. (RE: realising the potential, Ofsted 2013).

Religious education enables our children to investigate and reflect on some of the most fundamental questions asked by people. At MJS, we develop the children’s knowledge and understanding of the major faiths, and address fundamental questions concerning, for example, ‘how Jesus and Buddha made people stop and think’ and ‘what people believe about life after death’. Whilst children reflect on what it means to have a faith, they also investigate how those without a religious faith lead their lives. Thus, developing their own spiritual, knowledge and understanding.

Our school curriculum for religious education meets the requirements of the 1988 Education Reform Act (ERA). The ERA stipulates that religious education is compulsory for all children. RE is part of the basic curriculum. The school’s Religious Education Curriculum is based on Barking and Dagenham’s Agreed Syllabus, which is agreed by the Standing Advisory Committee on RE (SACRE). The curriculum has been designed to contribute to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of children, taking into consideration the diversity within our community. Therefore, we do not advocate selective withdrawal from Religious Education or collective worship sessions. Whilst parents/carers have a legal right to withdraw their child from Religious Education, at Manor Junior School, we always aim to find a way to keep all children involved in Religious Education: as this is imperative for successful character development.   

Nonetheless, a parent seeking to withdraw a pupil from lessons must do so in accordance with the school policy, and make an appointment to discuss the matter with the subject leader in the first instance.

Collective worship makes an important contribution to developing pupils’ understanding of fundamental British values as defined by Ofsted. Effective SMSC development can support pupils in better understanding and applying these fundamental British values.

At MJS, we aim to provide Collective worship opportunity for all pupils:
- to worship to consider spiritual and moral issues and to explore their own beliefs
- to encourage participation and response, whether through active involvement in the presentation of worship or through listening to and joining in the worship offered, and
- to develop community spirit, promote a common ethos and shared values, and reinforce positive attitudes.

At MJS, we strive to help our children recognise and value the things we share in common across cultural, religious, ethnic and socio-economic communities, while exploring, improving and showing respect for different faiths and cultural diversity.

This statement of intent is reviewed annually by Governors in the Spring Term