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Religious Education

Staff recognise and understand the distinctive features of teaching and learning in a Catholic school. The majority of our teachers are practising Catholics along with many Teaching Assistants. Teachers approach Religious Education with enthusiasm and creativity and make lessons interesting and fun for the children. We strive to provide teaching and learning opportunities that lead children to bear witness to their Christian living and their growing faith. Teaching is very well matched to the needs and capabilities of all children. Work is differentiated according to the level of the children taught and support is planned for vulnerable groups of children including SEN, and also our children who are working at Greater Depth.

Religious Education is the core and foundation of our entire school curriculum. It permeates every aspect of school life and learning. Teachers use Sacred Scripture as a basis for teaching Religious Education across all Key stages. They plan for and teach RE through the "Lighting the Path" Scheme of Work for years Rec to Y6, following the Diocesan guidelines. We encourage all children to engage with the ‘Big Questions’ in life, through higher-order questioning and thinking across all RE lessons (and other curriculum areas). Through these regular reflections, our children learn to know and love Jesus, and develop an increasing understanding of how we all share in His Good News.

Structure

Lighting the Path follows the structure of the recommended model curriculum as outlined in the Religious Education Directory. The school year is divided into six branches of learning, each lasting one half-term and having it's own core theme. The six branches are:

Autumn 1

Branch 1: Creation and Covenant

Children will meet the God who creates and calls a people. They will explore the belief that all comes from God, the Creation accounts in Genesis and the call of God and his covenant with his people through Abraham, Moses and the narrative of the Old Testament.

Autumn 2

Branch 2: Prophecy and Promise

Children will explore the teachings of the prophets as they point towards the fulfillment of God's promise of a messiah, Jesus Christ. They will explore how we wait for the coming of the Messiah in Advent and how this speaks to Christians today as we wait for Christ. Children will learn about the nativity of Jesus and the mystery of the incarnation.

Spring 1

Branch 3: Galilee to Jerusalem

Children will experience the ministry of Jesus, the Word of God. They will learn about the life of Jesus and will see how he reveals the Kingdom of God through parables, encounters, miracles and teachings. They will learn about the call of the disciples and what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

Spring 2

Branch 4: Desert to Garden

Children will study the season of Lent and will learn how it builds up to the events of Holy Week. They will learn that the events of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are at the heart of the Catholic Church's Liturgy and life. They will discover the journey from the desert of Lent to the Garden of resurrection, from darkness to light and from death to life.

Summer 1

Branch 5: To the ends of the Earth

Children will learn about the events surrounding the Resurrection, Ascension and the Coming of the Holy Spirit. They will become familiar with the work of the apostles and the early Church. They will also learn about the Catholic Church today and how we can trace our liturgies and structures back to those of the early Church.

Summer 2

Branch 6: Dialogue and Encounter

Children will learn how Christians work together with people who have different religious beliefs, and how all people of goodwill work together towards the common good, respecting all humanity.

As a Catholic School, we devote 10% of curriculum time to the teaching of Religious Education; this is separate from times of prayer and collective worship, such as assemblies, liturgies and class prayer which happen in addition to the taught curriculum. This means 2.5 hours a week of taught RE for pupils in Reception to Year 6.

As well as covering the delivery of Catholic Education, Lighting the Path also contains the resources and units required for us to regularly teach children about other world religions, in order that they develop an appreciation for faith in a wider sense and are appreciative and respectful of the religious beliefs, practices and observances of others thus enabling them to be responsible and constructive members of the multi-cultural, multi-faith society in which they live.

Preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are completed both in school and with the Parish community. During Year 3, the RE curriculum also supports children in this journey towards fuller participation in the Mass and the life of the Church.

We regularly monitor the planning and teaching of RE. We expect our Teachers to deepen their children’s’ understanding of the Word of God, and nurture a holy curiosity through their teaching. We have very high expectations of the staff and monitor RE lessons against the same criteria as all other areas of the curriculum. Teaching across the curriculum ensures our children have an effective understanding of the Catholic faith.

We use assessment in RE to monitor individual and class progress. We assess RE at the end of each topic using "check outs" and assess during lessons using a wide variety of activities.

We carry out pupil progress meetings each term to ensure all children are making progress.

Lesson observations, book scrutinies and discussions with children show good progress throughout school and increasing self-reflection. Our observations show that the standard of work in our RE books is as good as, if not better than, the work in our English books.

Our Resources are well-funded. Staff regularly attend CPD, and we dedicate at least one INSET day each year to RE, along with regular time in staff meetings. Governors are kept up to date with the standards of teaching and learning in RE through termly reports.

Pupil Voice interviews – RE lessons- 20/9/2024- carried out by Vice chair of governors- Margaret Hyde

Summary of findings.

Pupils were able to tell me what they have been learning in their RE lessons and which was their favourite lesson.

All pupils said they enjoy their lessons and enjoy learning about God and Jesus.

Pupils told me about their class Saints and prayers they say in class.

The pupils felt that RE lessons are just as important as other subjects such as maths and literacy and the work is just as challenging.

They confidently told me about what they have learned about other religions, their festivals, celebrations and churches.

Pupils told me about their favourite Bible stories and pieces of scripture are used in lessons.

If pupils found anything difficult in lessons the teacher would always help them. They said that they knew how well they are doing in lessons from teacher comments in books which also help them to improve their work.

Pupils also thought that they were learning useful skills in RE which help them to be kind and helpful, care for our world, and follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

POLICY