At the Forest CE Federation, we follow the Peterborough Agreed syllabus and use 'Understanding Christianity' as a supplement to aid the teaching and learning in order for the children to really have a solid grasp on the Christian Faith. Children learn about the main features and teachings of Christianity and other main religious faiths including Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam. Pupils are encouraged to respect others’ beliefs and values helping to promote tolerance and understanding between those of different races and cultures.  We also have themed weeks where the schools totally immerse themselves into a particular religion. Visits to different places of worship form part of the RE curriculum. 

Through 'Understanding Christianity', the teachers and children refer to 'The Big Frieze' - a wall frieze to illustrate seven of the eight core concepts that are explored throughout the Understanding Christianity materials. Effectively, this presents a view of the ‘big story’ of the Bible – an artist’s response to the approach used in the Understanding Christianity materials.

The Big Frieze is designed to give teachers the opportunity to make pupils aware of the wider context of each concept, unit and text studied in the Understanding Christianity materials. Reminding pupils regularly of where a particular text occurs within the ‘big story’, by pointing it out on the Frieze, helps to build up a coherent understanding of the core concepts and the relationship between them.

The artwork illustrates these concepts, from Creation to Kingdom of God, presenting a Christian view of the Bible as more than a collection of different texts – one which has an overarching coherence and story.