Faith, Culture and Community
At George Hastwell School, we believe that everyone should be treated with dignity, respect and kindness. Our curriculum is designed to broaden our pupils’ horizons and open their minds to new ideas, cultures, communities and perspectives. By learning about and from one another, we nurture curiosity, empathy and respect, helping our pupils to become confident individuals who value diversity and understand the importance of belonging.
Diversity Days
Together, we celebrate the rich diversity that makes our school community unique. Through stories, music, food, traditions and experiences from around the world, we explore different cultures, faiths and backgrounds. We celebrate the things that make each of us unique, while recognising the shared values and experiences that bring us together.
Religious Education
All pupils at George Hastwell School study Religious Education (RE) through our Diversity Days. This includes learning about Christian traditions, other principal faiths and the cultures represented within our school community.
While statutory RE teaching is mandatory, special schools have significant flexibility in how the curriculum is adapted to meet the needs of their pupils. Our approach focuses on learning from religion and exploring beliefs and values, rather than theological facts.
For our pupils, RE is taught through sensory experiences. This includes exploring all religious festivals through music, lights, different foods and tactile artefacts. Lessons also provide opportunities to develop self-awareness, confidence, empathy and a sense of belonging, while exploring universal concepts such as kindness, sharing, community and respect for others.
This year, we have chosen to explore the following topics:
Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of Religious Education (RE). Please contact the Head of School for more information.
