At Harper Bell Seventh‑day Adventist Primary School, Religious Education (RE) and worship are at the heart of school life and shape who we are as a learning community. Our Christian faith underpins daily life at Harper Bell, with acts of worship forming a cornerstone of each school day. Children begin the day with worship in their classrooms and come together for whole‑school worship across the week. Worship includes prayer, song, Bible readings and reflection, helping pupils to develop spiritually, emotionally and morally. We also welcome Seventh‑day Adventist pastors into school each week to lead worship and regularly visit our local church throughout the year.
Religious Education at Harper Bell is a highly valued academic subject that supports pupils to understand how religion and belief influence individuals, communities and society. At the heart of RE is the teaching of Christianity, rooted in the person and work of Jesus Christ. From ages 4 to 11, pupils explore key theological concepts, Bible teachings and Christian values, developing their religious, theological and cultural literacy.
As an inclusive school community, we believe it is important that children learn about and learn from other religions and world views, fostering respect, understanding and tolerance. This prepares pupils to live thoughtfully and compassionately in modern Britain.
We follow The Emmanuel Project, which provides a structured and progressive RE curriculum from EYFS through Key Stage 2. Pupils develop understanding through three key disciplines:
- Theology - exploring beliefs and teachings
- Human and Social Sciences - understanding religious practices and lived faith
- Philosophy - reflecting on values, meaning and moral questions
In the Early Years and Key Stage 1, children recognise religious stories, symbols and places, while exploring ideas of belonging and personal experience. In Lower Key Stage 2, pupils compare faiths and make connections between beliefs and actions. By Upper Key Stage 2, pupils analyse, evaluate and express well‑reasoned views on complex theological and philosophical questions.
Assessment supports both knowledge and deeper thinking, helping pupils progress from simple recognition to confident use of religious vocabulary and thoughtful reflection on how beliefs shape life choices.
Our approach to RE reflects the biblical principle found in Proverbs 9:10:
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
Through worship and Religious Education, we aim to nurture pupils who are curious, reflective, respectful and grounded in strong moral values, equipped to understand faith, themselves and the wider world.
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Withdrawal from Religious Education and Collective Worship
At Harper Bell Seventh-day Adventist School, Religious Education (RE) and collective worship are central to our ethos and daily life. Our teaching and worship reflect the values and beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and we warmly encourage all pupils to take part in these important aspects of school life.
We recognise, however, that parents and carers have the legal right, under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, to withdraw their child from some or all of RE and/or collective worship.
If you wish to exercise this right, please make a request in writing to the Headteacher, stating whether you wish your child to be withdrawn from the whole of RE or collective worship, or just specific elements. The school will make suitable arrangements for the supervision of any pupils who are withdrawn, but is not required to provide alternative curriculum work during this time.
We are always happy to meet with parents to discuss the content of our RE programme and collective worship, so that you can make an informed decision.