Alsager School is celebrating after achieving a gold RE quality award  

Alsager School in Hassall Road has a new string to its bow – a prestigious award in recognition of its work in religious education. 

The school has an enviable track record in RE and has also worked with nearby Alsager Highfields Foundation Primary School in Fairview Avenue. 

Sarah Skingle, head of RE and lead on the project, said: "I am really proud of all the hard work our RE department do and the quality of the provision we provide.

"It was a privilege to work alongside Alsager Highfields in developing the curriculum and I look forward to developing it further in the future," she said.

Alsager School says religious education is an important part of the curriculum.

A spokesperson said: "Alsager is a town with multiple churches yet, neighbouring towns, Crewe and Stoke, the picture is more diverse.

"There are multiple mosques, a Sikh cultural centre and Hindu Temple. RE is therefore a vital part of their curriculum as it encourages students to learn about different worldviews, and different cultures.

"RE fits in with the school spirit values and is critical in teaching tolerance and integrity, hence the reason Alsager School has a compulsory full course RE GCSE.

"By working closely with feeder primary schools, the Alsager RE team has been able to develop a curriculum which flows across from KS2, so the students are able to get deep knowledge and understanding of a range of worldviews – religious and non-religious.

The school says the curriculum is kept up to date through research, CPD and networking meetings.

It provides students with an opportunity to explore religious and non-religious worldviews, and make connections with global issues across KS three, four and five.

As part of the assessment, the assessor spoke with their students. He was impressed by their knowledge and commitment to RE and how eloquently they spoke.

One Year 9 student said: "RE teaches us about different cultures and religious practices.

"You can relate what you are learning in class to the real world. It challenges us, it is very engaging as we often work together."