Religious Education at Epping St John's

Our RE Vision

Religious Education at Epping St John’s is central to our life as a Church of England school in the Diocese of Chelmsford. Rooted in our Christian vision, Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, RE enables pupils to flourish academically, spiritually and morally.

We follow the Essex SACRE Agreed Syllabus and the Church of England Statement of Entitlement, ensuring that RE is a high‑quality, academic and inclusive subject. Christianity is taught as a living and diverse faith and remains the majority religion studied across all year groups.

     

Statutory Provision

• RE is compulsory for all students from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 5
• Christianity accounts for at least 50% of the curriculum
• RE is taught as a distinct subject, separate from Collective Worship
• The curriculum is carefully sequenced to ensure progression and depth

This reflects our commitment to RE as a core entitlement and a priority within the curriculum.

Our Curriculum

RE at Epping St John’s is built around theology, philosophy and the human and social sciences. Students explore Big Questions that develop critical thinking, respectful dialogue and personal reflection.

• Key Stage 3: pupils build strong foundations by exploring belief, identity, ethics, justice and truth through Christianity and other religions and worldviews chosen appropriately for our context.

• Key Stage 4: all students complete the AQA Religious Studies GCSE Short Course, studying Christianity, Islam and key ethical themes relevant to British society.
• Key Stage 5: students engage with contemporary philosophical and ethical issues, including fast fashion, economic justice, interest and mortgages, applying religious and Christian thinking to real‑world challenges faced by young adults today.

This ensures RE is both academically rigorous and highly relevant.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

RE teaching at Epping St John’s is engaging, challenging and reflective. Lessons provide safe spaces for discussion, debate and evaluation, enabling pupils to articulate their views while respecting others.

Assessment focuses on Big Questions, allowing students to demonstrate knowledge, analysis, evaluation and justified judgement. This approach supports strong progress and deep understanding over time.

Why is Religious Education so important to study?

RE helps students to:

• Understand Christianity and other religions as living belief systems
• Think critically about meaning, morality and identity
• Engage thoughtfully with ethical issues in modern Britain
• Develop respect, empathy and confidence in discussion
• Reflect on their own beliefs and values

RE prepares pupils not just for examinations, but for life beyond school.

Student Voice

“RE helps me understand why people believe what they believe, and how that affects the world around us.”
Year 8 student

“I like that we talk about real issues like fast fashion and money. It feels relevant to our lives.”
Year 12 student

“RE has helped me learn how to explain my views properly and listen to others respectfully.”
Year 10 student