WIRE Award

We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded the WIRE (Widening Inclusion in Religious Education) Award in recognition of our commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion, and spiritual understanding through creative and engaging learning experiences. This award celebrates schools that are leading the way in making religious education accessible, inclusive, and relevant to all students.

We have always believed in the importance of fostering understanding, respect, and empathy among our pupils. We are incredibly proud of how our school community embraced the Spirited Arts project, which formed the foundation of our application for the WIRE Award.

A Creative Journey Through RE: The Spirited Arts Project

Last year, every year group at Wanborough Primary took part in a thought-provoking arts project that allowed our students to explore important themes related to religion, culture, and social issues. The project encouraged our children to express their ideas and reflections through various forms of art, including paintings, drawings, and sculptures. Here’s how each year group contributed:

- Reception, Year 1 & Year 2: Our youngest learners explored the theme “Why Animals Matter”, reflecting on the role of animals in the world and considering the importance of kindness, care, and compassion towards all living creatures.

- Years 3 & 4: These children worked on the theme “How We Envisage God”, using art to express their own ideas of what God might look like, how God can be understood, and what God means to different people. This theme sparked deep discussions about diversity in belief and spirituality.

- Year 5: They focused on “God’s Green Earth”, creating artwork that celebrated nature and the importance of protecting our environment. Their work highlighted humanity’s responsibility to care for the planet and reminded us all of the beauty and fragility of the world around us.

- Year 6: Our Year 6 students explored the theme “No to Racism, Yes to Respect”, creating powerful art that advocated for equality, respect, and social justice. Their work was a thought-provoking statement on the importance of standing against racism and promoting unity and respect for all people.

A Visit to the Hindu Centre

In addition to their creative projects, our Year 3 students (the current Year 4) visited the Hindu Centre in Swindon. This experience allowed them to learn more about Hindu beliefs, practices, and traditions in a real-world setting. They had the opportunity to see and understand first-hand how people of the Hindu faith live and worship, bringing their classroom learning to life in a meaningful and enriching way.

A Shared Commitment to Inclusion

The WIRE Award recognizes schools that go beyond traditional religious education to make sure it is inclusive, accessible, and engaging for every student. At Wanborough Primary, we are proud of how we have created an environment where children of all backgrounds can explore and learn about different faiths, beliefs, and worldviews. This year’s *Spirited Arts* project was a perfect example of how we encourage students to think critically, creatively, and compassionately about the world around them.

We would like to congratulate all of our students and staff for their hard work and dedication throughout this project. It is their passion, creativity, and commitment to learning that have made this achievement possible, and we are beyond proud of everything they have accomplished.

Looking Ahead

Winning the WIRE Award is not just a recognition of what we’ve already achieved but also an inspiration to continue growing and improving our work in religious education. We are excited to keep developing new ways to explore important topics related to spirituality, faith, and social issues while maintaining our strong commitment to inclusion and respect for all.

We would like to thank the WIRE Award team for this recognition and congratulate everyone at Wanborough Primary for their outstanding contributions to this project. We look forward to continuing to celebrate diversity, inclusion, and learning in the years ahead!

Stay tuned for more updates on how we are fostering understanding and respect through creative learning at Wanborough Primary!