Religious Education

  • Intent

    At St Mary and St John Catholic Primary School, our Mission Statement permeates through everything that we do and we see this as our everyday curriculum.

    Religious Education (RE) is seen as ‘the core of core’ subjects.

    Children have the opportunity to explore the teachings of the Catholic Church which are revealed through the Word, in scripture, tradition, doctrine, prayers, rites and Christian living.

    Pupils understand how the teachings of the Catholic Church influence our behaviour and actions, with Christ at the centre of everything we do.

    For all children to become familiar with the liturgical year and how this impacts the life of the school.

    Pupils are exposed to religious vocabulary and can use this in an appropriate context.

    For all children to develop an understanding of respect for those of other faiths and none.

  • Implemention

    How is RE taught in St Mary and St John?


    Year 6


    Religious Education (RE) is taught using ‘Come and See’ – a scheme of work recommended by Liverpool Archdiocese.

    Each term, the children study topics to develop their understanding of: Church, Sacraments and Christian Living.

    Each topic lasts for 4 weeks:

    Week 1 – Explore – exploration of the children’s own lived experiences


    Weeks 2-3 – Reveal – learning about the Catholic faith through scripture.


    Week 4 – Respond – Pupils reflect on and celebrate their learning, which ends with a collective worship.


     


    Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) – Year 5


    RE is taught using ‘To know You more clearly’ from the new Religious Education Directory.

    It is taught in whole class teaching sessions and through continuous provision.

    There are 6 branches that make up the topics- these are in line with the liturgical year.

    In each branch children will:

    Hear – listen to the scripture from the Bible.


    Believe – explore what Christians believe from the scripture they have heard


    Celebrate – children consider how we act as Christians to celebrate what we hear and believe.


    Live – Linked to Catholic Social Teaching, children explore how we live out the scripture in our everyday lives.


    Our Relationships and Sex Education Curriculum is directed by the Diocese and follows guidance from the Conference of Bishops and the DFE. We use the 'Journey in Love' programme which is taught as a whole school programme and supports development of the child from Reception to Year 6 through the areas of spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social and physical development. Our annual 'Class Welcome meetings' are used to inform parents that year group content and details about each year groups 'Journey in Love' focus will be provided prior to delivery.

  • Impact

    How will we measure the impact of our RE Curriculum?

    • Assessment – In all classes, assessment for Learning (AfL) is ongoing and informs future planning. At the end of each topic, teachers assess pupils against the standard indicators. This informs end of term assessment, which is tracked by SLT. Assessment is moderated termly across year groups.


    Pupils have a good understanding of the teachings of the Catholic Church at an age appropriate level.

    Pupils’ behaviour in school is exemplary and they live out the school mission and Gospel values daily.

    Because pupils are regularly provided with opportunities to reason, they have a rich religious vocabulary, which they use confidently.

    Children have an understanding of key events in the liturgical year and how they influence the life of the school.

    All pupils respect other faiths, religions and beliefs and show interest in their teachings and, traditions and places of worship.

  • Aspirations

    Through Religious Education, we aspire for every child to know, love and serve God, growing in faith and recognising that they are uniquely created and deeply loved.


    We want our children to develop a rich understanding of the Catholic faith, encounter Jesus through Scripture, prayer and worship, and confidently reflect on the big questions of life and faith.


    Inspired by Gospel values, we aim for every child to leave us with compassion, hope and respect for others, ready to put their faith into action and make a positive difference in God’s world.

Meet The Subject Coordinator

Mrs Hitchen

RE Coordinator

My passion/ personal experience with my subject

I believe that Religious Education lies at the heart of our Catholic school community, helping children to understand how Faith shapes not only what we believe, but also how we live and respond to situations and circumstances. Through the life and teachings of Jesus, we are given the ultimate role model for how to treat others. We need to show compassion, forgiveness, love, humility and respect towards each other. The Gospel stories bring these values to life, providing children with meaningful examples of Jesus responded to those around him and with our support and encouragement we can support children to reflect on these qualities in their own relationships and choices.



Experiences in Our School

The new Religious Education Directory and Prayer and Liturgy Directory have strengthened our shared journey of faith, helping us to deepen our relationship with God through rich, purposeful, varied activities and deepening our relationship with God through our shared experiences when taking part in Celebrations of the Word. We have a close relationship with our Parish Community and have enjoyed further developing our outdoor prayer space. Through these shared efforts, we seek to nurture a strong sense of belonging and help children to recognise that Faith is not only within our school but part of the wider Catholic community.



Hopes and Goals in my subject

My hope and goal for RE is that it continues to support the development of positive behaviour and character, while strengthening our shared sense of purpose. In the Light of Jesus we learn to shine is more than a mission statement, it is a guiding principle that inspires our children to recognise their own gifts and talents and use them with consideration for others, making positive choices and becoming a light to others.

I’m looking forward to working with the pupil champions this year. We will be developing prayer spaces and themes in school where children can pause, reflect and share a special moment with God. We hope that our prayer spaces provide children with opportunities to nurture a personal and meaningful relationship with God, encouraging them to pause, reflect, listen and pray in ways that are accessible and relevant to their lives.


RE Overviews