At St Swithun Wells,  we understand the importance of learning about World Faiths. We live in a multi-faith area and want to educate our children about these faiths. First and foremost, education brings knowledge and understanding which in turn enables our children to appreciate and respect the many faiths within our local community. We study Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. 

World Religions Curriculum

In EYFS, pupils will listen to a variety of stories about children and families of different faiths and religions.  They will respond to different faiths and religions by making, creating artefacts, paintings etc, to retell how different people live and show their faith.  They may invite visitors of other faiths and religions to look at and talk about photographs and films.

In Year 1, they will start to recognise some of the signs and symbols of the Jewish faith. They will learn about the Hindu's place of worship and understand some of the ways that Muslims pray.

In Year 2, they will explain Hannukah and why it is important for Jewish people,  They will learn about the life of the Budda and be able to identify the 5 K's of the Sikh faith.

In Year 3, they will be able to explain how the Jewish people express their love for God and learn about a Bar/Bat mitzvah.  In Hinduism, they will understand the traditions and customs and know the story of Rama and Sita and how this links to Diwali. In Islam, they will be able to understand what the Quran is and how important this is for Muslims.

In Year 4, they will be able to explain the signs and symbols of Judaism and what happens during Passover.  They will use the story of Siddhartha and the Swan, to understand how kindness can be shown according to Buddhist teachings. In Islam, they will explain the 5 pillars and understand the life of the prophet Mohammad.

In Year 5, they will understand how Sikhism was formed and compare this to our own Catholic faith. In Hinduism, they will explore their ideas of right and wrong and in Judaism they will explain what Shabbat is and why it is important.

In Year 6, they will understand the reasons for Yom Kippur and make comparisons with their own faith.  In Hinduism they will compare their holy book to our bible. They will explain why the Mosque is such a special place for Muslims and what both the inside and outside of the Mosque symbolises.

Learning About Islam – A Visit from Ms Beg

In the Spring term, children in Key Stage 2 had a special visit from Ms Beg from Nursery, who came to speak with them about Islam as part of their learning about different world religions.

Ms Beg shared insights into her beliefs and daily practices, including how Muslims pray and the importance of the Koran, the holy book of Islam. The children listened with great interest and had the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions, which Ms Beg answered with warmth and clarity.

It was a wonderful opportunity for pupils to deepen their understanding of another faith and to celebrate the diversity within our school community. A big thank you to Ms Beg for her time and for helping to bring learning to life!