Religious Studies is a compulsory subject at Common Entrance level. Senior schools see the R.S. paper set by the Independent Schools Examination Board as an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their skills in analysing and interpreting stories that are a shared experience of childhood. For many of our pupils, some of whom enter our school at the beginning of Year 7 from non-European countries, there is little that is familiar about the Old and New Testament stories or the concepts underlying Judaism and Christianity. We have to work very hard and fast in Years 7 and 8 in order to cover the necessary ground and concentrate exclusively on the Bible stories. We build on the children's own experience, on their previous work lower down at Hendon Prep and on their earlier education, to furnish them with wherewithal to answer questions on other religions.

R.S lessons in Year 1 focus on 'Belonging', 'Beliefs about Life' and 'Special Books' in all the major world religions. In Year 2, the children learn about 'Celebrations', 'Serving' and 'Special Places' in all the major world religions. In Years 3 and 4, the children study the six main religions - Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism. This includes study of the religions' beginnings, their prayer and worship, places of worship, festivals, holy books, family life, Rites of Passage and important stories associated with each religion. From Year 5 onwards, the children study aspects of religion that will be helpful to them whether they are moving on to a Key Stage Three programme or preparing for Common Entrance. The work concentrates of the four faiths most commonly practised in Great Britain: Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism.

At Hendon Prep we are keen for the children to be told as many religious stories as possible that will help them to understand the ideas underlying the great world religions.

R.S provides opportunities to indulge in story-telling. This will develop good speaking, listening, writing and reading skills, and will often encourage under-confident pupils to come forward in a secure setting and will sometimes offer a calm time within a hectic school day. Children who are challenged by reading and writing may have an opportunity to shine in an oral situation. Those whose memory needs strengthening may benefit, and those who are over-reliant on the written word will have to listen and visualise without a book to refer to. The importance of the oral tradition to our different cultures will be noted during these sessions and it is possible that the children will remember with appreciation the times when they were told stories by their parents, grandparents and others.

The department values what can be gained by learning from religions as well as learning about religion. In such a multi-cultural community as Hendon Prep, there is a particular opportunity to promote the spiritual, moral and cultural well-being of the children through an increased awareness of each other's spiritual lives.

Learning about religions means that pupils recognise and describe people, objects, symbols, places and events encountered in the programme of study and remember the outline of stories. They talk or write about a religion, or an aspect of religion, linking some of the key people, objects, places and events. They identify the religions to which these belong and show awareness that some features, for example festivals, are characteristic of more than one religion. They suggest meanings for religious symbols, stories and language. For example, God as Father.

Learning from religions means that pupils respond to spiritual or religious aspects of stories in the light of their own experience and thoughts. They show understanding that some questions in life are difficult to answer. They recognise good and bad examples set by characters in stories and by those around them. They show awareness that some things are right and some are wrong and relate the moral issues encountered in their daily lives to religious teachings.

Aims and purposes

We learn Religious Studies at Hendon Prep in order to:

• Develop knowledge, understanding of and the ability to respond to the major world religions as they are practised in Great Britain;
• Develop not only tolerance but a positive and respectful attitude towards religions, values, beliefs and traditions represented at school and in the wider community;
• Increase the understanding within the whole school community of the ways whereby beliefs and traditions underpin people's actions, attitudes, judgements and words.
• Practise a thoughtful and sensitive approach to study;
• Consider the fundamental questions that people ask in their search for purpose and meaning of life, acknowledging that these questions are shared by all;
• Develop a sense of belonging and identity, preparing for life as a citizen in a plural society;

Of course, each member of the department has his/her own religious experience or approach to contribute but we undertake neither to promote any particular belief nor to compromise the integrity of any of the children's beliefs. We acknowledge that all of the children have their own background of a particular faith or none at all and that all have equal validity.

School assemblies that take place in the Hall are used as an occasion for displaying work involving a variety of skills, using R.S. themes as the content. Drama, music, presentation giving and artwork are demonstrated as well as reading and writing on these occasions.

There may also be shared worship directed either by adults or by children at this time. These assemblies provide opportunities for the children to present their efforts at their finest, promoting high self-esteem for them as well as an atmosphere of shared experience for those attending. Parents and family members are often present and can witness our response to living and working in a plural community. Our Junior School department also put on an annual nativity play on the Birth of Jesus around Christmas time.

The Annual Carol Service at St Mary's Hendon (our local Church of England church) gives the whole school an insight into the workings of a Christian place of worship. When we have our rehearsals for this important school occasion, the children are shown around the church and know and respect the most significant parts of it.

During harvest time, pupils are encouraged to make up harvest boxes for Harvest celebrations and these are distributed to our friends at Sudbury Neighbourhood Centre, Wembley. Mrs De Bruin encourages all classes to visit our local places of worship studied during the year and to treat visits to art galleries and historical sites (e.g. Canterbury Cathedral) as cross-curricular, as so much of our history is bound up with religious issues.