Focus Week: Primary RE: Can It Provide a Window on the World?

Focus week: Primary RE*: Can it provide a window on the world for pupils?

RE Online focus week in partnership with NATRE

May 17th-May 23rd 2025

This page brings together all the resources, links, and materials shared during our Primary RE Focus Week, which explored the importance of RE/RVE/RME as part of the primary curriculum. It is designed to support primary teachers with subject knowledge, recommended organisations, and practical resources that will continue to be useful now and in the future.

The content here will be of interest to trainee primary teachers, early career teachers, subject leaders, and anyone teaching RE to pupils aged 5–11.

During the focus week, we explored key questions such as:

What does high-quality religion and worldviews education look like for primary-age pupils?

Why should religion and worldviews education be secured in the primary curriculum?

On Wednesday 21st May, we hosted a free online ‘in conversation’, ‘How can RE provide a window on the world for pupils?’. We will be posting a subtitled recording of this event on this page in the coming weeks.

The event was hosted by Fiona Moss and featured the following expert guests:

Emma Turner: Previous Primary Teacher and Head, School Improvement adviser, author, curriculum and primary expert
Ruth Flanagan: Previous Primary teacher, researcher and leads aspects of Primary ITE at Exeter University.
Liz Manning: Primary Teacher, NATRE Steering group member and Bolton SACRE RE lead teacher.
Saima Saleh: Primary Teacher, NATRE Steering group member and Local groups officer
John Semmens: Primary Teacher, RE leader and Norfolk SACRE.

In addition to the online event, we published the following blogs:

Empowering Primary RE Leaders: Why Expertise Matters in Curriculum Design and Leadership by Katie Freeman

Acceptance, Bridge Building, Critical Thinking, Deference, Empathy – Why Primary RE is Invaluable by Charlotte Hockin

Beyond Tolerance: Active Allyship in Religious Diversity by Amy Clarke

Opening a Gateway to the World – The Role of Governing Boards as Champions of Religious Education by Sam Henson

A View From Primary ITE: From Deep Dives to Aim Highs by Ellen Coefield

How Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) Opens Minds and Hearts in the Primary Classroom by Carrie Richards

We also shared this research spotlight from RE and Christian Ethos Adviser Dr Ryan Parker exploring how 9- and 10-year-olds can engage more deeply with biblical parables. His study focused on the Parable of the Good Samaritan and used hermeneutical questioning to support pupils in interpreting the text, encouraging reflective and dialogic learning. The approach highlights how rich encounters with religious texts can develop pupils’ religious literacy from an early age. Dr Parker has shared his thesis, lesson plans, classroom resources and a short film.

Our resource spotlight was curated by Education and Programmes Manager Fiona Moss, bringing together a wide range of high-quality materials to support primary teachers. These resources are designed to enrich classroom practice, build subject knowledge, and help deliver engaging and thoughtful Religion and Worldviews education for pupils aged 5–11.

Fiona Moss has also curated this brilliant list of RE/RME/RVE organisations, subject knowledge sources, classroom-ready resources, engaging films and more, available to download in sections or in full.

NATRE shared a wealth of resources for primary educators, some of which are usually reserved for members only. We have collated these resources here.

We shared insight from three senior educationalists, highlighting why headteachers should prioritise religious education in their curriculum. The piece outlines how RE helps children make sense of the world, fosters respect and inclusion, and builds essential life skills such as empathy and critical thinking. It argues that RE provides a vital space for pupils to explore identity, belonging, and big questions—preparing them for an unpredictable future in a diverse society.

We also shared lots of short clips from teachers and others. We think these may prove useful in staff or dept meetings and when working with teachers in training or early in their career. We have compiled these into four categories, which can be found below.

We welcome conversation, do get in touch and let us know what you think on our social media channels.

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*When we use the phrase RE or religion and worldviews education it is inclusive of another names for the subjects, particularly Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) in Wales and Religious and Moral Education (RME) in Scotland.