At St. Joseph’s, Religious Education is the core of our curriculum and is central to the life and mission of our school.
We have designed a broad, balanced and progressive Religious Education curriculum that supports pupils to learn about religion (AT1), learn from religion (AT2), and develop the skills to analyse and evaluate.
Our Religious Education curriculum aims to ensure that pupils:
- Develop responsibility for continually deepening their religious and theological understanding and are able to communicate this effectively
- Encounter an authentic vision of the Church’s moral and social teaching, enabling them to act with honesty and integrity in contemporary society
- Grow in awareness and understanding of the faiths and traditions of other religious communities, fostering respect and dialogue
- Relate their Catholic faith to daily life, showing honesty, kindness and friendship towards others
- Develop self belief, confidence and the understanding that they are capable and valued
Through Religious Education, we nurture pupils’ spiritual, moral and personal development, helping them to grow as thoughtful, reflective and compassionate individuals.
Implementation
At St. Joseph’s, Religious Education is taught through discrete lessons, accounting for 10% of the weekly curriculum time, in line with requirements of the Bishops’ Conference. This does not include additional prayer opportunities such as Celebration of the Word or liturgical acts.
We believe Religious Education is the foundation of our school community.
The whole school follows the ‘Come and See’ Catholic Primary Religious Education programme, which is rooted in:
- The theological foundations of the Second Vatican Council
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church
- The revised Religious Education Curriculum Directory
The programme includes clear Catholic attainment levels and provides structured progression throughout the school.
Teaching and Learning Approach
Religious Education is taught through themed units which allow pupils to build on prior learning and deepen understanding over time.
Each topic follows a clear, reflective structure:
- Explore – Pupils relate the theme to their own experiences and everyday life
- A Big Question is introduced at the start of each topic and revisited at the end to encourage reflection and discussion
- Reveal – Pupils explore scripture, Christian beliefs and Church teaching, and consider how faith shapes life today
- Respond – Pupils reflect on their learning and prepare a short liturgy or prayer experience, allowing them to respond personally and spiritually
At the end of each topic, pupils engage in self assessment, supporting reflection and understanding of their own learning journey.
Impact
By the time pupils leave St. Joseph’s, they will have:
- Developed secure knowledge and understanding of religion (AT1)
- Learned to reflect on and apply faith to their own lives (AT2)
- Made clear progress in their understanding of Catholic belief, practice and values
- Gained respect and understanding for people of other faiths
- Built confidence in discussing religious ideas and questions thoughtfully
Pupils leave St. Joseph’s with strong foundations in Religious Education, well prepared to continue their faith journey and make meaningful progress in their future education and lives.