“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”  - Margaret Mead

At Woodside, we strive to provide our children with an exciting and positive learning environment in which they have the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of religions while contributing to their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. RE is taught throughout school, placing enquiry at the heart of learning enabling our pupils to find out more about their own faith and that of others around them while also giving them the opportunity to learn that there are those who do not hold religious beliefs and have their own philosophical perspectives. Through Religious Education, our pupils are encouraged to explore religious and non-religious world views, along with all other curriculum areas, particularly RSE and our Global Learning. This not only equips them with the necessary skills and mindset for life in the 21^st century but also promotes the values and attitudes necessary for citizenship in a multi-faith and multi-racial world. The aim of RE is to help children acquire and develop knowledge and understanding of Christianity and all five of the other major religions represented in our local community through developing an understanding of, respect for, and dialogue with people of different beliefs, practises, races and cultures. Another key aspect is to consider the beliefs, teachings, practices and ways of life central to religion and learn about sacred texts, other sources and consider their meanings.

Following an evaluation of the syllabus', we use Croydon Agreed Syllabus as the basis for our curriculum. We follow this as it provides the breadth and depth of knowledge across a range of religions, providing additional expose and experiences for our children. Our teachers plan a wide variety of off-site educational visits, and visitors are also invited into school as a way of enhancing subject knowledge and providing our pupils with real life experiences. Religious Education is fundamental to fostering and contributing to the development of all children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.