Nether Hall School
Religious Education at Nether Hall School
Religious Education forms a vital part of the Exploring the Wider World area of learning. RE, at Nether Hall school, is embedded into our weekly learning activities.
Our core values at Nether Hall are values which encompass all faiths, in particular Respect, where we aim to create and maintain an ethos where individual differences are recognised, understood, valued and celebrated.
On the asteroid pathway our students have a sensory experience of RE. The concept of ‘faith’ is delivered through the aromas, sounds, textures, flavours and feel of important festivals which reflect the diversity of Nether Hall’s population and daily periods of reflection and ‘worship’. Class prayers or ‘quiet time’ music are used at the end of each day. On the main framework for Exploring the Wider World, from the ‘people’ strand, My Faith and people of other faith – is the generic terminology we use to encompass this sensory delivery of RE.
In primary classes continuous provision is used and includes activities to support our pupils to develop emotionally, spiritually and morally. We help them find out about themselves, their families and community. Additionally, we help them to develop a sense of place in their family and community, in the world and in the universe. We help them learn about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families, communities and traditions.
On the comet and meteor pathways, RE is embedded across the curriculum. In PSHE, students are taught to recognise themselves as individuals and recognise their role in their families and communities. They are encouraged to explore their faith identity, whether this be of a specific faith or no faith. On the main framework for Exploring the Wider World from the ‘people’ strand, the elements ‘Myself and Others’ exhorts us to interact with others with Kindness Friendship and Respect and explore ‘Groups I belong’ includes faith groups.
With our meteor students, individual faith is celebrated and encouraged. Periods of fasting or abstinence, as in during Lent or Ramadan are discussed and many students become actively involved in these practices. Specific classes, for whom it is appropriate, include a religious aspect to their PSHE and RSE focus to discuss moral and ethical responses to world events. All classes have a class prayer and we celebrate birthdays, a wide variety of festivals from multiple faith groups and often food specific to the specific festival is prepared during the weekly cooking lesson as well as making gifts in mini enterprise for significant celebrations.
Below, is the Sixth form prayer as an example and, of course, we have a weekly assembly where success is celebrated and thanks are given.
'We give thanks to our God, for the good things which have happened today and the new things we have learned. We look forward to going home and enjoying a peaceful evening with our families. Amen.'
