Religious Education

At Thorncombe St. Mary’s, we use a creative approach to teach RE, incorporating art, music and drama into our study. Pupils learn about Christianity and also about other principal world religions such as Judaism, Hinduism and Sikhism. RE, however is not only about understanding specific religious traditions. It offers pupils the opportunity to think about their own lives, values, attitudes or beliefs and the chance to express their thoughts and ideas in a variety of ways.

The study of Christianity is at the heart of our curriculum. We follow the Christian calendar and embed the core Christian values throughout our teachings of other faiths. Being a county-border school, we use the Devon & Torbay syllabus in conjunction with the Understanding Christianity scheme which provides a systematic and consistent process which enables children to develop their understanding of religious traditions of our increasingly diverse society. The principal aim of 'Understanding Christianity' is to engage pupils in enquiring into big questions arising from the study of religion, belief, philosophy and ethics. In doing so Religious Education will support pupils’ own personal moral, philosophical, ethical and spiritual development and promote respect for others.

As a Church of England school, we take seriously our role of presenting Christianity as a living faith. A close link with the church community is encouraged so pupils can see Christian Life, Worship and commitments at every opportunity. We also make a point of marking the celebrations of the Christian Year to deepen understanding and support our Christian ethos.