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Deputy headteacher, Religious Education lead and Year 5 teacher

Grace Whitfield

I introduce Religious Education through questions, warm explanations and discussion, making space for pupils to explore beliefs and practices without assuming their family’s experience of faith.

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A little about me

I teach Year 5 and Religious Education across Years 3 to 6, and I lead worship planning. I want pupils to encounter questions worth considering rather than being rushed towards a quick right answer. Discussion can help them explore what a belief or practice means while listening to others.

Families bring different experiences of church and faith. I do not assume what a pupil already knows or believes. I explain the context warmly, invite questions and give children space to decide what the ideas mean to them. That makes the conversation clearer and more respectful for everyone in the room.

I look for resources that help teachers introduce a topic, make key language accessible and leave space for reflection. A clear prompt can begin the conversation, but the teacher needs to adapt it to the group. I value Religious Education that supports understanding without expecting children to share a belief or response.

How I approach a lesson

  1. Use questions that invite reflection rather than a single quick answer.

  2. Explain context without assuming a family’s background.

  3. Make space for pupils to respond without pressure to share a belief.

Templates I'd use with my class

Explore these templates and decide what fits your own setting.

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