A Hindu priest visiting GEMS

Curriculum Intent

Through our Religious Education curriculum, we strive to help children to acquire and develop knowledge, understanding and tolerance of the principal religions represented in Great Britain, as well as globally.  Our pupils are encouraged to appreciate the way that religious beliefs shape our lives and our behaviour and to develop their abilities in making reasoned and informed judgements about religious and moral issues.  The curriculum across all four year groups nurtures pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, and is instrumental  in ensuring our pupils are respectful, resilient, caring and responsible citizens when they leave us for the next stage of their education.  As a large proportional of our school community identify as having no religion (233 to date), we also include teaching of non-religious world views in our curriculum.

How the students are supported in RE

Gosforth East Middle School is an inclusive school where every child is valued and respected. We strive for excellence and are committed to the inclusion, progress and resilience of all of our students, including those with SEN. We support our students to make progress in their learning, emotional and social development.  

Teachers are responsible for the progress of ALL students in their class and high-quality teaching is carefully planned to include supporting students who may have SEND. All students are challenged to achieve to the best of their ability, to make good or outstanding. 

Specific approaches which are used within the curriculum areas include: 

• Targeted and well thought out seating plans 
• Appropriate levels of scaffolding provided 
• Ensuring resources are suitable for individual learning needs 
• Group work and discussion 
• Clear teacher/student communication 
• Targeted and well thought out questioning techniques 
• Feedback that allows all students to make progress, whether written or verbal 
• Using strategies best suited to addressing individual needs 

Assessment

Assessment is carried out in lessons and can include 

• Extended writing 
• Presentations 
• Tests 

Enrichment Opportunities

We encourage visits and visitors to school and make good use of links within the local community. 

• We work closely with the Quakers in Gosforth and Trinity Church.  Year 5 visit both the Meeting House and the Church on the same day, making comparisons between the two. 
• We have taken part in the Chain of Peace. 
• We have held Christingles at Trinity Church. 
• Gideons visit the school annually to distribute Bibles. 
• We have annual visit from a Hindu priest. 
• We work closely with Brundibar Arts project and have had second and third generation Holocaust survivors talk to the pupils.  In 2022, pupils in Year 8 were responsible for creating the set and costumes of a production of the Brundibar Opera. 
• We have had visits from Humanist speakers. 

Curriculum Overview