Tong Primary School

In Tong School, we endorse the 5-14 RME National Guidelines issued by SOED in November 1992 insofar as they comply with the Local Education Authority RME policy and its emphasis on our cultural and Christian heritage. The regional policy statement requires that the school identifies an RME co-ordinator. In Tong School the RME co-ordinator is the Head Teacher.

The aims of RME in Tong School are:

a) to help pupils identify important characteristics of Christianity and recognise

religion as an important expression of human experience;

b) to help pupils investigate and understand the questions and answers that

Christianity offers about the nature and meaning of life;

c) to help pupils identify, in the upper primary stages, important characteristics

of other world religions, and in particular Judaism;

d) to help pupils develop their own beliefs, attitudes, moral values and practices by encouraging their personal search, discovery and critical evaluation in a variety of ways;

e) to help pupils appreciate and assimilate commonly held moral values such as

honesty, liberty, justice, fairness and concern for others;

f) to help pupils understand the implications of a religious commitment.

A variety of learning and teaching methods are employed, taking account of the ability, level of development, attitudes of pupils and resources available. Group work, question and answer, audio-visual aids, artefacts, visits and visitors enhance learning, ensure differentiation and foster pupils’ interaction with subject content. Daily prayers are an integral part of classroom practice. A weekly whole-school Assembly is taken by the Head Teacher and School Chaplain, alternating weekly. The setting of homework is in accordance with the school’s homework policy.

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A programme of study, taking into account balance, progression and continuity, is in place at each stage of the school. This programme of study is in line with the 5-14 RME National Guidelines document and the LEA policy on RME and will be subject to continual review and development. The programme of study identify resources suitable for each target. For stages P1 and 2 and P3 and 4 a 2-year rolling programme of study is in place and for P5, 6 and 7, a 3-year one. LEA Planning Formats are in use throughout the school. See Appendix 4.

The majority of the RME curriculum is delivered through Bible-based and discrete topics. ‘Circle-time’ is an on-going aspect of the delivery of RME.

Religious and Moral Education and Health receives, 15% of curriculum time, as quoted in the Guidelines, with cognisance taken of the fact that, though aspects of RME occur in other curricular areas, this does not detract from the RME time allocation.

As a result of the school review, RME is assessed at all stages as an integral part of the learning and teaching process. This is in accordance with Regional Guidelines and with school policy on Assessment and Recording.

The school has a comprehensive range of RME resources to enhance the learning and teaching of RME. These will be augmented as finances dictate, both from the per-capita budget and from outside agencies. See Appendix 2 for catalogue of resources.

Visitors are used as a very valuable resource to enhance pupils’ learning within the framework of a particular unit of study. As per Regional Policy statement for RME, the school chaplain, curriculum development and advisory staff, foreign and home missionaries from local churches and personnel from well-known organisations have been used to this end.

Through reports and parents’ evenings, we aim to inform parents of the aims, objectives and content of RME, enabling them to understand the curriculum, which may be radically different to their expectations and experience. We recognise that parents and guardians have a significant role in fostering and supporting positive attitudes toward RME. Some parents and guardians may have anxieties that RME conflicts with their beliefs or religious practices. Most anxieties are allayed when the educational rationale of RME is discussed.

As provided for by legislation, provision is made for the withdrawal of pupils from RME if required by parents or guardians. Pupils withdrawn will be supervised at all times, in accordance with LEA guidelines. Withdrawal will not therefore necessarily mean withdrawal from the classroom where RME is taught. If withdrawal is required, parent or guardian should contact Head Teacher.

This policy document is the result of collaboration and discussion amongst all staff in our school. It will be reviewed and updated regularly. Proposed date for review 2004/05.