Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) A research project with Primary teachers and pupils
Josh Cass, Culham St Gabriel's
For the last two years, the team at Culham St Gabriel’s have supported teachers in four primary schools across England to explore how their children can engage with, and learn about, Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). This report summarises the outcomes and the experiences of those teachers and their children from Phase II of the project. The report explores how teachers can develop a ‘FoRB lens’. Teachers are then able to support their children to apply that lens when teaching existing units of work or lessons. In other words, this approach does not necessarily require the development of new units of work or lessons, rather the application of an approach.
The report builds on the Phase I report which established clear FoRB learning outcomes for EYFS, KS1 and KS2. Additionally, taken together the reports include examples and ideas which other teachers may wish to try out in their own classrooms.
This research strand is arguably the first attempt from anywhere in the world to explore how children in schools can learn about FoRB and FoRB principles.
In your school or in your local group or network or across your multi academy trust
- Ensure that pupils are enabled to reflect on their own backgrounds, values and positions as part of religious education.
- How could you apply a ‘FoRB lens’ to the RE lessons that you are teaching?
- What are the implications of implementing FoRB principles across RE?
- Consider the recommendations on page 13 of the report below
