Reception - RE-Hinduism
This week our class looked at special places for people of different faiths, specifically Hinduism. We compared pictures of Mandirs and Churches and practised some mindful meditation and yoga. Then we did some bhangra dancing in celebration. The children really enjoyed the colour and joy of the Hindu faith.
Year 1 RE: How Do Jews Welcome Babies?
In this RE lesson, the children explored how some Jewish families and communities welcome babies. We learnt about Jewish naming ceremonies and discussed how these can differ for boys and girls. The children discovered that, in many Jewish traditions, boys may take part in a Brit Milah ceremony, while girls may be welcomed through a naming ceremony, Brit Bat, often held at the synagogue or at home. We discussed that practices can vary between different Jewish families and communities, and not all Jewish people celebrate in the same way. The children compared similarities and differences between the ceremonies, identifying that both are often joyful celebrations where the baby is welcomed into the community and given their Hebrew name. They also recognised differences in some of the traditions and rituals involved. Throughout the lesson, the children showed respect and curiosity when learning about Jewish beliefs and practices and were able to make thoughtful comparisons with other welcoming ceremonies they have studied.
Reception- R.E- Exploring the features of a mosque.
It was fantastic teaching the Reception class all about the different features of a mosque, exploring what happens inside, and discussing who goes there to worship. The children were deeply engaged throughout the lesson, showing great curiosity as we looked at the daily practices and rituals that take place within a mosque. It was wonderful to see them so inspired, and they asked a variety of thoughtful questions to deepen their understanding of other faiths and cultures.
Year 3- Class Worship- Do We Learn More From Winning or Losing?
Today in class worship, we explored a news story about the recent Men’s FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, where Manchester City and Chelsea competed. We used this event to reflect on the question: "Do we learn more from winning or losing?" Under our theme "More Than a Winner," we focused on the Christian value of Faith and read from 1 Corinthians 9:24–25, which compares life and faith to running a challenging race. We discussed how, while only one team can walk away with the physical trophy, the true value of any competition lies in giving our absolute best, developing self-control, and building an honest character. During our group discussions, the children shared that we learn more from losing, but it's great to win too. We noted that while winning is thrilling, losing often teaches us the most valuable lessons about effort, resilience, and how we can improve next time. We even reflected on an inspiring quote from footballer Mohamed Salah, who shared that he always looks at his weaknesses and works on them to become a better person and player. To close our worship, we sang the historic hymn "Abide With Me" as a moment of unity and reflection, and said a final prayer asking for the strength to persevere, to value our shared efforts, and to always choose kindness and integrity.
Year 4 - RE: Visit to St Barnabas Church
During our visit to church this week, the Year 4 class spent some time exploring and spotting some interesting features. Rev Ben asked them to consider what symbols they noticed, how they may be used and how they may link to the Bible. The children remembered a number of key features from their study of the church in Year 2, such as the font, the lectern and the chalice and plate. They were able to state a use for each symbol and suggest links based on their personal knowledge of the Bible, for example, “The font is for baptising people” and “I think this links to when John the Baptist baptised Jesus.” Rev Ben then explained the symbols’ uses and links in more depth, as well as explaining that the term “Church” mostly refers to the people who form an organised body of Christ’s believers. Rev Ben ended the session with an invitation to ask questions about the objects they had explored, and the Church in general.
Year 3- R.E- Exploring Religions and their values.
Today in R.E., Year 3 explored four religions, Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam, by looking closely at their unique places of worship, such as the Gurdwara, Mandir, Vihara, and Mosque, as well as the core rules that guide their followers. The children were incredibly inquisitive throughout the session, asking lots of questions as they discovered the many striking similarities these faiths share, such as the commitment to charity and a deep respect for community and life. The lesson concluded with a thoughtful discussion on why all religions have rules in the first place, helping the students understand that these guidelines aren't just restrictions, but are designed to provide moral guidance, encourage peace and harmony, and help believers practise spiritual discipline.
Year 1 RE: How Do Muslims Welcome Babies?
Today in RE, we explored the question: How do Muslims welcome babies? We learned about Aqiqah, a ceremony that many Muslim families use to welcome a new baby into the community. We discussed some traditions that may take place during Aqiqah, such as cutting the baby’s hair, giving to charity and gathering with family and friends to celebrate. We then compared similarities and differences between Aqiqah and Baptism. The children identified that Baptism often involves the use of water and oil, whereas Aqiqah may involve cutting the baby’s hair. We also discussed that, in Christianity, people can be baptised at different ages, not only as babies. The children recognised that both celebrations can represent belonging, welcoming and the importance of family, faith and community.
Year 6 - Expressing our views of Jesus
Today during our RE session, the children focused on expressing their own views and understanding of Jesus. They explored how Jesus can represent guidance, hope, love and faith in people’s lives. Using creativity and reflection, the children designed and created their own crosses to symbolise their personal interpretations of Jesus and what He means to them. The children thoughtfully selected different images and symbols to include in their designs, such as lighthouses to represent guidance and safety, pathways to symbolise direction and following the right path, gates to show welcome and new beginnings and flowers and elements of nature to reflect beauty, growth, peace and creation. The activity encouraged the children to think deeply about their beliefs and express their ideas in a meaningful and imaginative way.
Year 4 - RE: Symbols of Faith
In RE this week, the children explored some typical religious features from different places of worship. Initially, nine pictures of religious features and symbols from churches, mosques and synagogues were displayed around the room and the children walked around the room, writing their best ideas around the pictures. The children then learned some information about each feature/symbol, including what it is called and its link to scripture. The children then had to match the symbols with their names and their links to scripture.
Year 5 - Religious Education
This week, our Year 5 pupils showed great maturity exploring different perspectives on the nature of death. We compared the traditions of Christianity and Islam, noting how both often focus on the afterlife and the journey of the soul and how their actions are judged by God. We also looked at Humanism, where the focus is on the here and now. Many Humanists believe this is our one life, inspiring us to make a positive impact on the world today! It was wonderful to see the children discussing these deep topics with such empathy and respect. By comparing Christian, Muslim, and Humanist perspectives, we discussed the concepts of the soul and the afterlife versus a naturalistic, "one life" approach. We’re so proud of the children for their thoughtful reflections on how these beliefs shape the way people choose to live their lives. 🌟
Year 1 RE: Jesus’ Baptism
Today we focused on Jesus’ baptism. This is when John baptised Jesus in the River Jordan and the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove. God said “this is my Son whom I love”. As Christians, we follow Jesus’ example and way of life, therefore being baptised is a way that Christians will follow Jesus. The children retold the story through filling in the missing words and drew a picture to match.
Year 1 RE: Experiencing a Baptism
Year 1 were very fortunate to experience a baptism today. We had a doll in a beautiful christening gown. We had some parents and godparents who helped to care for the baby at church and make important promises to God. The children listened very well to all of the important readings and joined in with prayers. Rev Ben showed us the story of Jesus’ Baptism, which we will be focusing on next week, as well as explaining the important objects used in a baptism, such as the oil, candle, holy water and Bible. After the baptism, we had a party to celebrate the baby joining God’s Family. Thank you to Rev Ben for hosting the baptism and providing the children with a real life experience.