Religious Education

The outcome of our Religious Education curriculum is to develop religiously literate young people who possess the knowledge, understanding, and skills—appropriate to their age and capacity—to think spiritually, ethically, and theologically. Our pupils are encouraged to understand the demands of religious commitment in everyday life, in accordance with the updated Religious Education Directory (2025).

We aim for what is taught in Religious Education to be reflected in the daily life and values experienced by our children at school, and ideally in their homes and the wider parish community.

Aims of Religious Education (Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, updated)

• Develop knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith and life.

• Understand the response of faith to fundamental questions about human life, its origin, and purpose.

• Develop the skills to examine and reflect on religious beliefs and practice.

Objectives:

• Foster knowledge and understanding of the mystery of God, Jesus Christ, the Church, and its central beliefs.

• Encourage awareness and appreciation of Catholic belief and its impact on personal and social behaviour, including the relationship between faith and life.

• Promote study, investigation, and reflection.

• Develop skills such as attentive listening, critical thinking, and the acquisition of knowledge.

• Cultivate attitudes including respect for truth, empathy, and openness.

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Religious Education accounts for at least 10% of teaching time and is also taught in morning sessions when available. The “Lighting the Path” scheme forms the foundation of our curriculum, supplemented with additional resources. The Bible remains a vital resource in our school life. Learning is delivered creatively and engagingly through writing, reading, art, drama, debate, and ICT. Cross-curricular approaches are encouraged, e.g., integrating RE themes in literacy, art, or research projects.

Reflection is integral to our Religious Education curriculum, and we provide structured opportunities for reflection across all ages.

Eucharist, Prayer, Worship, and Services

School and class masses, assemblies, and celebrations—including Nativity plays, Carol Services, Easter Praise, and the Parish Sacramental Programme—are central to our Religious Education. High standards are maintained, and children are actively involved in reading, acting, and preparing materials for these celebrations.

Each class maintains a prominent prayer focus area, updated regularly to reflect RE topics, the Church’s year, or specific focuses for the class or school. This demonstrates the importance of prayer in daily life. Our school chapel provides a quiet space for prayer, reflection, and peace, and is used by our child-led prayer group daily. All pupils are timetabled to spend time in the chapel with school chaplains.

Work with Parish Priest

Our Parish Priest actively supports our school, including classroom visits, lesson contributions and collaborating with school chaplains and Caritas Ambassadors. We host the Parish Mass on Wednesday mornings, welcoming parishioners and rotating class participation. Older pupils support younger children in learning responses and hymns.