2025 – 2026 Highlights: Religious Education

This academic year, RE at Channing has been a vibrant tapestry of exploration. Across every year group, our pupils have dived into the rich traditions of world religions, building a deeper understanding of diverse faiths and celebrating the shared values that connect us all. Through storytelling, creative arts and big philosophical questions, our pupils have shown wonderful curiosity and an open-minded respect for the beliefs of others.

Our curriculum has been brought to life beautifully by our incredible parent community. This year, parents stepped into the classroom to lead interactive workshops that gave the girls a vivid, first-hand look into living faith and cultural identity.

This year, our Reception classes have embarked on a wonderful journey of discovery in their Religious Education lessons, focusing on the core themes of belonging, celebration and community. Throughout the terms, they have developed a foundational understanding of different world faiths by exploring special stories, sacred places and major festivals, including Diwali, Christmas, Eid and Easter. Through hands-on activities, creative crafts and reflective discussions, the pupils have learned the importance of kindness, sharing and respecting others.

In Year 1, our pupils were introduced to Diwali, exploring the beautiful significance of the Hindu Festival of Lights and how it is celebrated. They also looked across the Atlantic to discover the history and joy behind the Fourth of July celebrations and sat captivated during a special presentation on the story of Passover.

Our Year 2 pupils connected their RE learning directly to our Channing Characters. They spent time exploring the essential qualities that make a good leader – highlighting the importance of being a good listener, helpful, encouraging, respectful and kind. The pupils then debated the roles and responsibilities of different positions within our own school, reflecting on why they themselves would be great for those jobs, before beautifully linking these same traits to the inspiring figures who lead world religions.

Year 2 also enjoyed deeply immersive cultural workshops. One session focused on Shabbat, where the girls loved learning about the blessings of the candles, the traditional handwashing and the significance of Challah bread. Later in the year, a wonderful presentation on Greek Orthodox Easter showed the girls how this major celebration intertwines with Greek history and identity.

In Year 3, curiosity flourished with a deep dive into Sikhism, where pupils learned about its founder, Guru Nanak, alongside the core beliefs and daily practices of Sikhs. The pupils also expanded their knowledge of Christian and Jewish calendars through engaging parent talks on Pentecost Sunday and the traditions of the Passover holiday.

Year 4 experienced a brilliant, hands-on workshop all about Hanukkah. Volunteers took to the stage to act out the Hanukkah story as a live show for their peers. The girls were introduced to a real Menorah, learning how it is carefully lit each night and discovering the traditional dreidel spinning top. The classroom then transformed into a game show arena; split into four teams, each representing a letter on the dreidel, the girls enthusiastically answered quiz questions about the Hanukkah story whenever the virtual ‘Wheel of Names’ landed on their team.

Meanwhile, our Year 5 pupils took a memorable trip to Bhaktivedanta Manor. This immersive visit allowed the girls to engage with Hindu traditions in a profoundly peaceful setting. They walked through the tranquil gardens, fed the resident cows, experienced a traditional bullock cart ride and, after a delicious lunch, took part in dressing up and a story re-enactment.

In Year 6, the girls learnt about ‘Expressing Faith through the Arts’. They analysed religious artwork from around the globe, looking deeply at the symbolism, deliberate colour choices and meaning behind each piece. They also showed curiosity when learning about ‘Sikh Worship and Community’, prompting insightful discussions around its foundational pillars of equality, devotion to one God and selfless service.

Of course, our seasonal celebrations brought the whole community together. From the spectacular Winter Show and traditional festive lunch to our uplifting carol singing at St Michael’s Church, the school was filled with song and laughter. Spring later arrived in a burst of colour with our annual Easter Bonnet Parade, where pupils proudly showcased their wonderfully creative designs.