Religious Education in England at Pre-School and Primary School II: The Sample of the Church of England School

Abstract

Faith schools have an important place in the British education system. The schools opened and operated by churches make up approximately 33% of the all schools in England and are also financially supported by the state. These schools follow the national curriculum but implement the religious education curriculum prepared by the church. As a matter of fact, instead of the phenomenological religious education, a curriculum based on a specific sect's religious education has been followed. This study examines religious education in the Church of England Pre -School and Primary Schools, which make up the majority of the British faith schools, in the academic year of 2012-2013. As a result, it is put forward that these schools are framed with an approach based on the Christian way of life and the values with a religious education curriculum aiming for increasing the consciousness of the student about Jesus, the Bible, the sacred time and place beginning from the pre-school years to the end of primary school.