On this microsite you will find a collection of religious stories that you can use to storyboard or develop your ideas about teaching RE. Using stories appears in most Agreed Syllabusus and the religious narrative lies at the heart of much religious teaching. In the first QCA support guidance for teaching RE (QCA, 2009) the use of stories is highlighted as:

• For all pupils, their knowledge and understanding of different religions begins with awareness that some objects and people are special ... they will learn this by ... becoming familiar with a range of stories from a number of religions and cultures

And in the guidance for Key Stages this appears:

• In KS1:
• learn about religions through:
• special places, objects, symbols, sounds, events, times, music and stories in the religions represented in the UK
• Stories about lives and activities of those actively practising the religious represented in the UK
• expressing personal thoughts about stories, pictures, music and life experiences
• In KS2:
  • learn about religions through:
    • exploring and finding out about important features of religions, for example, beliefs, ideas, sounds, music, symbols, people, events, times, objects, books, places, activities and stories
    • considering their personal thoughts about stories, pictures and music, ideas and life experiences and the natural world
  • learn from religions by:
    • exploring stories about values and relationships, for example trust
    • exploring stories from different religions and cultures
• In KS3:
  • learn about religions through:
    • exploring and asking about their beliefs and key features, for example, ideas, sounds, music, symbols, people, events, times, objects, books, places, activities and stories of Christianity and other religions represented in the UL
    • recognising similarities and differences between different religions, for example, the story of the Garden of Eden as known in Islam, Judaism and Christianity
  • learn from religions by:
  • considering the place of stories, pictures and music, thoughts, life experiences and the natural world
  • exploring stories about values and relationships
  • exploring stories from different religions and cultures
• In KS4:
• learn about religions through:
• exploring how religious beliefs are expressed through a variety of media, for example, sculpture and poetry
• learn from religions by:
  • considering personal thoughts about stories, pictures and music, ideas, life experiences and the natural world
  • to express and communicate their own views, ideas and beliefs with developing confidence
  • exploring stories from different religions and cultures