Trotts Hill Primary School and Nursery
At Trotts Hill Primary School, the intent of our Religion and Worldviews teaching is to:
Our high-quality Religion and Worldviews curriculum is integral to our school vision; “…where each individual is cared for deeply, valued and respected; where everyone in the school community has the opportunity to learn in an environment full of excitement and fun, so they can grow up to be lifelong learners and assets in the community, society and world they live in.”
Religion and Worldviews is taught in all year groups across the school. It may be blocked into subject days/afternoons or taught as one hour weekly lessons. Our R&WV learning is recorded in whole class ‘big books’, which enable us to focus our teaching on high quality discussion, hands on experiences and enquiry-based learning rather than an onerous focus on individual recording.
We follow the Herts Agreed Syllabus 2023-2028 with the overall approach based upon respect, understanding and engaging with diversity.
To enhance children’s learning, we draw upon the children’s own experiences of Religion and Worldviews. All religions and their communities are treated with respect and sensitivity and we value the links, which are, and can be made between home, school, and a faith community. We acknowledge that each religion studied can contribute to the education of all our pupils.
We ensure that all children are appropriately challenged, whilst collaborative learning techniques are utilised and questioning is not only teacher-led but also child-led. The "Ultimate Questions" from the Hertfordshire Agreed Syllabus support the use of big questions and open discussions.
Where possible, we provide children with the opportunity to visit local places of worship and all staff have access to a database of contact details for local places of worship/visitors from faiths.
Throughout their time at Trotts Hill, children will follow a coherent and systematic study of the principal religion of Christianity as well as five other principal religions represented in Great Britain. Judaism and Islam will be the predominant additional principal faiths in KS1. Islam and Sanatana Dharma (formerly referred to as Hinduism) will be the focus for lower KS2. Buddhism, and Sikhi will be covered in upper KS2. Children may also learn from other Religions and Worldviews (such as Humanism) in thematic units.
All six principal religions will have been introduced and revisited by the end of the Key Stage 2. It is our aim that all children will leave Trotts Hill being able to recall the top five faith facts of all six principal religions studied.
There are no presumptions made as to the religious backgrounds and beliefs and values of the children and the staff. We value the religious background of all members of the school community and hope that this will encourage individuals to share their own experiences with others freely.
The children at Trotts Hill Primary School enjoy learning about Religion and Worldviews and why people choose, or choose not to follow a religion or to follow elements of religions.
As young citizens, of not just Hertfordshire, but also of the United Kingdom and the world, the impact of their R&WV learning will help them understand that they can contribute positively to inclusive and safe communities in which everyone is valued, kept safe and which embrace and celebrate diversity.
Trotts Hill sees that Religion and Worldviews are invaluable in an ever-changing world.
In R&WV we follow the Herts agreed syllabus, which reflects the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian whilst taking account of the teaching and practises of five other principle religions represented in Great Britain.
We teach different religions in different year groups, as shown on our curriculum map. During each key stage, children will develop religious, theological and philosophical literacy by following eight key areas of learning, which are:
Beliefs and practices
Sources of wisdom
Symbols and Actions
Prayer, Worship and Refection
Identity and Belonging
Ultimate Questions
Human Responsibility and Values
Justice and Fairness
*”A worldview is a person’s way of understanding, experiencing and responding to the world. It can be described as a philosophy of life or an approach to life…A person’s worldview is likely to influence and be influenced by their beliefs, values, behaviours, experiences, identities and commitments.” (Religion and Worldviews: The Way Forward p4)
Year 6 - BIG QUESTION: Should only Christians be allowed to celebrate Christmas?
This term Year 6 have been discussing, 'Should only Christians celebrate Christmas?' The children have shared their own personal views and then Gemma from Bridge Builders came into share her views too.
Today the children visited St Nicholas church to experience the Christmas Journey. The children met the shepherds, the Maggi, Simeon and Anna and of course Jesus, Mary and Joseph. They all made a crown and filled in a booklet about the Nativity. Huge thanks to the volunteers at the church and Bridge Builders for an excellent educational trip.
The children were given pictures of the Christmas story to order. As a class, we looked at the correct order and retold the Christmas story. We then heard from three Christians about what Christmas means to them and how they celebrate. We identified the similarities and differences between the three Christians. Finally, we explored why kindness is important to Christians at Christmas.
Today the whole school enjoyed a House morning, run by our eight House Captains. They introduced the morning and explained that we would be looking at Religion and Worldviews to celebrate the introduction of our new R&WV curriculum.
We have a range of Worldviews represented in Trotts Hill. Our percentages are similar to both Stevenage and the UK as a whole. They explained that we all have a worldview, even if we are not religious. Our worldview can change through our lifetime and even if you/we are not religious, we all still have a worldview as we are influenced by everyone and everything around us. ​
We split into our houses which incorporated children from Reception to Year 6 and learnt songs, read stories, wrote poems and created a piece of collective artwork.
It was a lovely, calm and peaceful morning with the children showing real kindness and empathy throughout. Well done everyone. Everyone belongs at Trotts Hill!
Rev Keene visited the school to deliver an assembly on Harvest Festival. He read from the Psalms and the children needed to try and remember all the animals and food mentioned in the passage. The children were impeccably behaved and answered the Reverend's questions sensibly. We then sang Harvest Samba.
LI: To tell you how I could be kind to others even if it is difficult.
Today we introduced the new enquiry by talking about what kindness is; how we show it and how it is shown to us. The children identified that friends, siblings and relatives can be kind and they can show kindness by being a good friend, helping, sharing and caring. We then went on to explore how sometimes how hard showing kindness can be in certain situations BUT how it is still possible. The class put freeze frames together.
In RE we have been exploring Faith stories which focus on justice and fairness. We watched and discussed the faith stories and then acted them out.
Year 6 took part in a workshop provided by the Bridgebuilders Trust. They watched videos about different parts of the Easter story and completed a variety of tasks, including crafting crosses and planting sunflower seeds.
In RE and World Views the children spent time exploring the Muslim place of worship, a mosque. The children explored photos of mosques around the world, watched a video tour of a mosque which explained the different features. Finally, they had the opportunity to take a virtual tour of a mosque.
After learning about the festival of Purim and listening to the story of Esther, the class made their own Hamantashen and decorated their biscuit bags with symbols and names from the story.
In Buddhism, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. Year 6 created their own flags with mantras on how they would like to lead their lives. We then displayed these in class to promote all the positive mantras on a daily basis.
We discussed leaders we were aware of which included and talked about how Jesus used the scriptures as the basis for his teachings. We read the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. Blessed is another word for happiness. We reflected on the question Does the Sermon on the Mount of any relevance in today’s world?
We responded with role play set in a modern day context. Groups could relate to ‘Blessed are the peacemakers… merciful… persecuted’
Mrs Paice visited year 5 during Hanukkah to help them revise their previous learning on Judaism from Year 2 and to learn more about the festival from a Jewish person with lived experience. The children were able to recall how many candles are used, why and their significance.
Today, we visited St Hugh and St John Church to experience the Christmas story. The story is sequenced into four scenes and acted out by volunteers, dressed in character. The children were really engaged and a credit to the school.
Year 3 explored the period of advent celebrated by some Christians. They explored the meaning behind the advent wreath and then created their own.
LI: To understand the importance of the hannukiah in the celebration of Hannukah.
Year 2 made their own hanukkiah's decorated with Jewish symbols. They could explain what the 8 candles represent and the 9th candle, the shamash.
Today Mrs Paice visited Year 2 to tell them all about Chanukkah and the traditions in her family. She told us the story about the Maccabee brothers and how their miracle led to the Jewish festival of light. Mrs Paice taught us some songs and also read us a lovely story. We then played the traditional Driedel game (although we only won counters, not chocolate gelt!). Thank you so much to Mrs Paice for giving up her time.
In Year 1 we have been looking at prayer in different faiths. The children have talked about what prayer is as well as thought about how and why people might pray. We had a visit from the Reverend Keene from St Nicholas Church, who told us that many Christians pray to God because it is like talking to a friend, he also taught us the Lord's Prayer. We also had a visit from Mrs Dogar who talked to us about the Muslim pray of Salat. She let us try out the prayer mats and different head coverings.
Year 2 were really fortunate today to be visited by Mrs Lederman, a member of the Stevenage Jewish Community. Mrs Lederman explained to us where the Jewish faith began and who it began with. She also talked to us about what is important to Jewish people and how they became spread across the world. The children were really interested to see Hebrew script from the Torah and especially as the books open the other way around and the artistic script is written from right to left. We also found looking at a map Judaea fascinating and how some of the cities are still there even thousands of years on. Year 2 asked sensible questions about how long Mrs Lederman spent at her synagogue and what she did there. Stevenage synagogue is only a small community of around 60 members but they meet for a few hours every week to read from the Torah, pray, sing, eat yummy food and receive challah (bread) and wine.
Mrs Lederman explained that being part of the Jewish faith is of course about praying to God but also about being part of a worldwide Jewish community. She has visited synagogues in different parts of the world where they speak different languages but the faith, beliefs and universal Hebrew language is the same.
Year 2 would like to send huge thanks to Mrs Lederman for giving us her time. (Plus she let us try on kippahs (hats) and made us some delicious challah!)
The children looked at images of stained glass windows and Buddhist mandalas and discussed what message they thought they are trying to portray. The children then designed their own stained glass windows or mandalas with their own messages.
Thank you so much to all the families who generously donated to our Harvest festival assembly. We have been overwhelmed at the kindness show by our school community. We celebrated with a visit from Reverend Keene from Saint Nicholas Church who led part of the assembly. The children also shared harvest songs and poems they prepared for the occasion. All donations will delivered to the Food Shed this evening.
Year 4 was so lucky this week to welcome Gulzar and Sarabjit Sahota from the Hitchin Gurdwara. The children listened intently to how the Sikh faith began and what it means to its followers. The children then asked sensible questions and had the opportunity to look at real artefacts (karas, kangas) see a real kirpan (mini ornamental sword) and cover their heads with head scarves bought at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Our guests were so warm and kind hearted. Gulzar summed up the Sikh belief that everyone is equal describing faith like rivers all going into the same ocean. They also told the story of how Guru Nanak (the founder of the Sikh faith) travelled the continents to learn about different faiths and how he spent his father's money on helping the poor and those in need. This led to the founding principles that Sikhs should remember God always, work hard and share with the needy.
I felt very proud of the children today and our visitors commented on how wonderful the class were. Well done year 4.
In order to learn about how Sikh's believe that you should live the truth as well as know the truth, the children acted out the story of Sajjan the Robber.
There has been lots of Easter excitement around school. Year 4 have been thinking about the Easter Story. Today, the children made a model of the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus was entombed. The children also made Easter baskets decorated with Easter symbols. They learnt that hollow eggs (real and chocolate) represent the empty tomb. Interesting.
The children have taken their gardens home and will water them (lightly!) to grow the grass.
Year 3 used Bibles to read the story of Easter. They then retold the story using symbols and explained the meaning behind the symbols. Year 3 considered why Easter is an important time for Christians.
Year 6 participated in a virtual Easter journey organised by Bridge Builders. The children learned about the life of Jesus and the events leading up to his crucifixion. The children discussed personal heroes and discussed the significance for Christians of Jesus as the Messiah.
Nursery had a busy time celebrating Easter. They listened to the Easter story, made stain glass window crosses, designed their own Easter eggs and made Easter nests.
What is Christmas at Primary School without a nativity (or two!), some tea towels, singing about reindeers and figgy puddings and lots and lots of glitter! 2022 did not disappoint. The Nursery Nativity was splendid, with the children performing beautifully in front of an audience. The performance followed up the learning in class where they heard and sequenced the Nativity Story. At the other end of the school (and considerably taller!), Year 6 also performed the Nativity. They wrote their own script and added their own twist on the familiar story. It was poignant and showed was amazing progress the children have made.
Of course the three wise men and shepherds visiting baby Jesus isn't the only part of the Christmas story as Year 4 found out. They learned about King Herod and his cunning plans to find and kill baby Jesus . The children role-played the main characters and completed thought bubbles about what they were thinking.
On Friday 9th December, year 2 visited St Hugh and St John's Church to learn about the Christmas journey. Volunteers led the session and ran four stations to help the children learn about the Christian Christmas story. The stations included meeting the shepherds, meeting Anna and Simeon, meeting the wise men and making crowns. Year 2 then watched Mary and Joseph perform on stage explaining their part in the Christmas story. We ended the morning by learning and singing a new song with actions. The children had a fantastic morning.
Although we look at religions individually, we also look at how some celebrations cross over religions and different cultures. For instance, Diwali is celebrated by both Sikhs and Hindus in similar ways, but for different reasons.
Year 4 looked at Advent and how it is celebrated around the world. They discovered that the theme of light seems to be important in all cultures. After looking at celebrations around the world, the children were then able to make advent symbols.
They made a Mexican star pinata, a Chinese lantern, a Danish bread wreath and a UK advent wreath.
Year 4 Diwali
Year 4 have finished the half term with a flourish by presenting their assembly on Diwali to the whole school and their families. The children told the story of Rama and Sita where light triumphed over darkness. The children spoke beautifully and recreated the story with excellent acting and just a little bit of fighting!
The children also got the opportunity to show the work from their recent RE lessons. They showed rangoli patterns made from coloured sand which entices the Goddess of Wealth into homes. They also showed their brightly coloured diyas moulded from modelling clay.
The assembly finished with a rendition of ‘A Night of a Thousand Lights’ which was performed with great enthusiasm.
Well done to Year 4. They were amazing!
LI: To know about the significance of Easter for Christians.
BIG QUESTION: What did Jesus do to save human beings?
Year 6 participated in a virtual Easter journey organised by Bridge Builders. The children learned about the life of Jesus and the events leading up to his crucifixion. The children discussed personal heroes and discussed the significance for Christians of Jesus as the Messiah.
Year 6 explored why Buddhists meditate. We learned that mediating is used to help focus the mind and to stop it rushing about in endless thoughts. Some Buddhists use meditation to reflect inwards and to spend the time to understand the self. We then all practised meditating to see if it helped us focus and relax our minds. We also created our own motivational messages in the style of Buddhist prayer flags, which we have hung in the classroom to remind us to be positive.
In November, Year 4 shared their learning about Divali with the rest of the school and their families. The children shared the story of Rama and Sita, their diva lamps and a traditional song. Mrs. Shergill spoke to us about her own family's celebrations for Divali which really brought the festival to life for us all.
This year it was wonderful to be able to hold two whole school celebrations of Harvest. Mrs. Magdeburg led an assembly which focused on the reasons for Harvest and the Christian festival. We discussed the importance of sharing with others and how Christians reflect at Harvest time of the gift of food from God and how we share what we have with others. We collected a significant amount of food to share with others via Food Shed, the Stevenage food bank.
