Statement of Entitlement
Statement of Entitlement
Our school reflects the Religious Education (RE) Statement of Entitlement through a whole-school approach that places RE at the heart of its ethos and daily practice. We emphasise that every child is entitled to a high-quality religious education which enables them to explore deep questions of meaning, purpose, and truth, and the school fulfils this by designing an RE curriculum in KS3, 4 and 5 that gives Christianity a central place while also ensuring pupils engage with other world religions and non-religious worldviews.
Alongside formal RE lessons, the school extends these principles into its tutor programme, where pupils explore a “theme of the term” and have daily reflections which incorporate religious, ethical or philosophical themes. These themes are carefully chosen to reflect Christian values while also encouraging reflection on universal moral issues, helping pupils make connections between what they learn in RE and their wider lives.
Tutor time discussions, assemblies, and collective worship all reinforce these themes, creating consistent opportunities for pupils to ask questions, consider different perspectives, and develop their own values. In this way, the curriculum and tutor programme work together to meet the entitlement’s vision of RE as academically rigorous, spiritually enriching, and socially relevant. The school thus ensures that pupils not only gain knowledge about faith and belief but also learn to apply these insights to their own character formation and to the way they live within a diverse society.
At Altwood students will receive the following RE provision:
KS3 – Three hours per fortnight
KS4 – Four hours per fortnight
KS5 – All students receive at least 10 hours of specific religious education each year through theme of the term delivered bi-weekly in tutor time. This is further enhanced through our enrichment programme and carefully selected guest speakers where appropriate.
In Key stage 3 and key stage 4 our school reflects the RE Statement of Entitlement and the biblical vision of John 10:10, that every child should “flourish and live life in all its fullness,” by ensuring that religious education is both academically rigorous and deeply formative. The RE curriculum is carefully sequenced to give pupils a strong understanding of Christianity as a living and diverse faith, centred on the teachings of Jesus and the life of the Church, while also engaging them with a wide range of world religions and worldviews. This approach upholds the principles of dignity, respect, and generous hospitality, enabling pupils to appreciate the richness of belief and the importance of living well together in modern Britain. The commitment to inclusivity and respect for religious freedom is also embedded into the tutor programme, where a “theme of the term” such as forgiveness, truth, Hope, Faith and Joy are explored through discussion, collective worship, and reflection activities. These themes allow pupils to connect their RE learning to their everyday lives, encouraging them to think about moral and spiritual issues in light of their own experiences and the perspectives of others. In this way, the school not only meets the statutory requirement for high-quality RE but also nurtures pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development, preparing them for the opportunities and responsibilities of life in a diverse society.
By intertwining RE lessons, tutor time, and the wider ethos of the school, pupils are enabled to grow in knowledge, wisdom, and compassion, fulfilling the Church of England’s vision of education where all may flourish.
In the sixth form, the RE Statement of Entitlement and the vision of John 10:10, that every young person should “flourish and live life in all its fullness,” are reflected through a programme of study and enrichment that builds on prior learning while preparing students for life beyond school. Sixth form students benefit from a high-quality and carefully sequenced religious education, which is delivered through enrichment, guest speakers and our tutor programme that address themes such as human dignity, ethics, interfaith dialogue, global justice and many other topical issues. These opportunities are designed not only to deepen students’ understanding of faith but equipping them with the skills to navigate complex moral and philosophical questions in higher education, the workplace, and wider society. Tutor time and the “theme of the term” continue to provide structured opportunities for discussion and reflection, allowing sixth formers to connect theological and ethical concepts with current affairs and their own developing worldviews. This provision upholds the Church of England’s commitment to generous hospitality and respect for religious freedom by encouraging students to articulate their own beliefs while engaging respectfully with the perspectives of others. In doing so, the sixth form fulfils the statutory requirement for RE while also educating for dignity, respect, and community, ensuring that students leave school with the knowledge, wisdom, and character to contribute positively to life in modern Britain and to live well together with others.