RE at St Mary’s Hampton
At St Mary’s Hampton, Religious Education is central to our identity as a Church of England school and plays a vital role in expressing and embedding our Christian vision:
“In Faith We Trust, In Hope We Dream, In Love We Flourish.”
We strive to nurture a community where every child feels supported, valued and inspired to reach their full potential. Through faith, we encourage trust and resilience; through hope, we foster aspiration and perseverance; and through love, we build a compassionate and inclusive environment where everyone belongs. This vision is at the heart of our RE curriculum and shapes how pupils understand themselves, others and the world around them.
RE at St Mary’s Hampton seeks to address important questions about meaning and purpose, and to explore what is valuable and worthwhile in life. The curriculum is carefully planned and is based on the London Diocesan Syllabus, as determined by the Governing Body, ensuring depth, coherence and progression in pupils’ learning from EYFS through to Key Stage 2.
The theological basis of our vision is rooted in the belief that we are called to prioritise love in our relationships and actions. While faith and hope are indispensable, love is the most authentic witness of God’s work in a person’s life and the most enduring legacy of the Christian journey. This understanding underpins our teaching of RE, encouraging pupils to reflect on how beliefs shape actions and how love can be lived out in everyday life.
How RE is Taught
We deliver a rich and varied RE curriculum that enables pupils to develop a secure knowledge and understanding of Christianity, while also learning about and appreciating other world faiths, including Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Hinduism and Buddhism. Through this, pupils are encouraged to develop respect, empathy and understanding, supporting our commitment to inclusion and the dignity of every individual.
Our RE curriculum is enquiry-based, with each unit and lesson centred around a key question. This approach encourages pupils to think deeply, ask challenging questions, share their own beliefs and experiences, and listen respectfully to the views of others. Lessons are characterised by open discussion, reflection and thoughtful debate, where all contributions are valued.
Our vision for Christian distinctiveness is inspired by the Diocese of London’s 2030 Vision, which seeks for every young Londoner to experience the love of God in Christ, and by the London Diocesan Board for Schools’ vision for Church schools to be:
- Places where all can flourish
- Places which enable transformational futures
- Deeply Christian communities, committed to serving the common good, with Jesus’ invitation to “life in all its fullness” (John 10:10) at their heart
In line with the Church of England’s role as the established Church, the Diocese of London and the LDBS, our vision is for the common good of the whole school community.
The strength of RE and Christian ethos at St Mary’s Hampton was recognised in our Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS), where the school was judged Outstanding. The inspection noted that:
“The school promotes a sense of spirituality that is shared by the whole community. Pupils have many opportunities to ask deep questions, learn the power of reflection and develop their spiritual personality, irrespective of their personal faith or belief.”
Through Religious Education, pupils at St Mary’s Hampton are supported to develop their own beliefs and values, deepen their understanding of the Christian faith, and grow spiritually, morally and socially, so that they are well prepared to flourish as compassionate, hopeful and faithful individuals in the wider world.
How RE is Assessed
Assessment in Religious Education at St Mary’s Hampton is ongoing, purposeful and reflective. It focuses on pupils’ progress in knowledge, understanding, enquiry skills and personal reflection, rather than on right or wrong answers. Teachers assess learning through observation, discussion, questioning and pupils’ written and creative responses, as well as through evidence in RE books. Particular emphasis is placed on pupils’ ability to engage with key questions, use appropriate religious vocabulary, make connections between beliefs and lived experience, and reflect thoughtfully on their own views and values. This approach ensures assessment supports deep learning, values pupil voice and helps all children to flourish, in line with our vision “In Faith We Trust, In Hope We Dream, In Love We Flourish.”