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Global and Spiritual Understanding

The Global and Spiritual Understanding area of our curriculum includes the subjects of Geography, History and Religious Education (R.E) This curriculum area aims to support our children to become informed, considerate and responsible citizens, aware of different cultures around the world. We place a high value on the children developing a good knowledge and understanding of the world around them that takes them beyond the local area.  We focus on learning about the very many different cultures, religions and ways of life in our country and around the world. 

History and Geography

History

Children have a knowledge and understanding of local and national history and that of the wider world. They understand chronology and changes over time. Children are confident and inquisitive learners, who use historical sources and artefacts to make judgements and draw conclusions about the past.

Geography

Children are curious about the local environment and the world around them. They have an understanding of physical and human geography and how these are linked. They carry out field work and apply their geographical skills to better understand and protect the world they live in.

Implementation

These subjects enable children to gain an understanding of people in society through time and place and at Dormansland they are integrated into topics where possible. In addition to acquiring knowledge about other times and other places, our children develop general and investigative skills, through looking at artefacts and documents from the past. These skills are also developed in geography through activities such as interpreting plans, maps and diagrams, appreciating the chronology of time and finding information from a variety of relevant sources, including atlases and encyclopaedia as well as from other non-fiction material. The local environment is frequently used as a learning resource, with children looking at how Dormansland and the surrounding area has changed and some of the problems that local, national and international areas face, both at present and in the future. 

RE

Intent

Children develop a knowledge and curiosity of principal religions and are tolerant of other people’s beliefs. They understand how religious beliefs and practices shape communities in Great Britain and around the world.

Implementation

For young children, R.E. is best related to children’s own experiences. Relationships with others, exploration of the natural world, celebrations, customs and festivals are all meaningful and relevant in our children’s moral, spiritual and cultural development. Dormansland Primary follows the Surrey Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.

At Dormansland there is a daily act of collective worship. We also introduce the children to special days that are important to other principal world religions. Visits to places of worship are part of the programme of study and are important aspects in teaching children to live in a multi-cultural country. During Key Stage 2 children study the development of Christianity and the life of Jesus Christ, as well as parts of the Old Testament. Comparisons and contrasts are made with the other major world religions. A programme of Religious Education based on the Surrey County Council Agreed Syllabus is followed in class lessons.

Although religious education must be taught in all maintained schools, any parent has the right to withdraw his or her child, wholly or partly from such religious education.