Religious Education

The religious programme that the whole school follow is called  ‘Lighting the Path’  Links are made with the children’s own experiences and the curriculum is adapted to make it real and meaningful to our children.

Reception to Year 6 children now use the Religious Education teaching resource called Lighting the Path. This resource is designed to help children explore important questions about life, faith, and belief in a way that is thoughtful, inclusive, and age-appropriate. It supports children’s spiritual and moral development and encourages them to think deeply, ask questions, and reflect on their own views and experiences. What will children learn? 

Each half term, children will explore a different theme from the Bible and Catholic tradition. 

The themes follow the events of the Church’s year so children can make links with other parts of Catholic life and mission in school. 

Autumn term 

∙ Creation and Covenant – Children explore Bible stories about how God created the world and made loving promises to people. 

∙ Prophecy and Promise – Children learn how prophets spoke of hope and the coming of Jesus, especially during Advent. Spring term 

∙ Galilee to Jerusalem – Children follow stories of Jesus’ life and teachings, and how they guide Christian beliefs and actions today. 

∙ Desert to Garden – Children reflect on Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, learning about Jesus’ death and resurrection. Summer term 

∙ To the Ends of the Earth – Children hear how Jesus’ followers began the Church and how Catholics live out their faith today. 

∙ Dialogue and Encounter – Children explore Christianity around the world and learn about other faiths and beliefs, encouraging respect and cooperation. 

How will children learn? 

Children will learn through stories, discussion, art, music, and reflection. 

They will be encouraged to: 

∙ Hear – listen to stories and teachings 

∙ Believe – explore ideas and beliefs 

∙ Celebrate – learn about prayer and special times 

∙ Live – think about how we treat others and care for the world.

While the curriculum is based on Catholic teaching, it is designed to be inclusive and respectful of all children, whatever their background or beliefs. It does not assume that children are Catholic or religious, and it encourages open-mindedness and respectful dialogue. Children will also learn about other faiths and worldviews and how people of different beliefs can work together for the common good. Supporting your child You don’t need to be familiar with Catholic teaching to support your child. 

The curriculum is designed to be accessible and engaging for all families. If you have any questions or would like to know more, please feel free to speak to your child’s teacher or the school’s RE lead Mrs L Pennick

The children learn to become religiously literate and grow their relationship with God through a Hermeneutical approach to scripture. They develop excellent religious vocabulary and can articulate their learning well, at an age appropriate yet challenging level.

It is important to us that our children see themselves as part of a wider community. To ensure we have real and lasting experiences we have a planned programme of visits to places of worship so that children can learn about the many similarities between major world religions.  Therefore other religions are taught from EYFS to Year 6. We have focus’ on different faiths throughout the year.

Staff Reflections

One very important aspect of each topic is the whole staff reflection when the staff come together to reflect on the new topic at their own level before they start work with the children

At the end of each reflection a short period of time is spent looking at the resources for the new topic and any possible cross-curricular links.

Staff always begin every meeting with prayer. We begin every school term with celebrations of the Word and also enjoy beginning and end of year Masses.

Other Faiths 

In his life on earth Jesus showed a respect for those within and outside his own faith community.

Children today live in a fast changing global world, where communication and travel opens children to diversity and challenge. It is important that we prepare them for this.

The Church calls us to be committed to respecting people from other religions and to recognise that God is at work in them. The Church teaches that, whilst living out our Christian faith, we are called to dialogue and be ready to learn from those of other faiths, many of whom may, be our neighbours.

Pupils are encouraged not simply to learn facts about other religions but to also reflect upon them and gain insights from them.

We spend one week each academic year focusing on Judaism and one week looking at one of the other three major religions (three year cycle) Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism.

Protected Characteristics 

On 19 April 2021, Ofsted updated their guidance on Inspecting teaching of the protected characteristics in schools. The document laid out what inspectors will look for when gathering evidence on how schools promote equality and pupils’ understanding of the protected characteristics.

The guidance said this:

Schools are not required to teach about all the protected characteristics in every year group; that is a matter for the school to decide, and how it plans its curriculum. However, the curriculum should be planned and delivered so that children develop age-appropriate knowledge and understanding during their time at the school. In secondary schools, this includes age-appropriate knowledge of the protected characteristics of sexual orientation and gender reassignment.

There are a range of ways schools can choose to teach about these issues in an age-appropriate way. Primary schools could, for example, teach pupils about the different types of family groups that exist within society.  As stated in the DfE’s statutory guidance, teaching on these matters should be integrated appropriately into the curriculum, rather than addressed separately or in one-off lessons.

In the accompanying guidance, Equality and diversity impact assessment: inspecting protected characteristics, Ofsted addressed concerns that some schools may feel conflicted in their teaching due to the religious beliefs at the core of the schools’ ethos. It said:

[We note] that: “All schools, including faith schools, will be able to teach the new subjects in accordance with their school values and ethos while also having due regard to the guidance and being consistent with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.” (DFE Statutory guidance). Our guidance does not go beyond the statutory guidance or stipulate how schools must go about teaching this content. …Inspectors will expect to see that pupils ‘develop age-appropriate knowledge and understanding during their time at the school’.

LIFE TO THE FULL & THE PROTECTED CHARACTERISTICS: Currently 

• In KS1, we look at family structures (particularly KS1, Module 2,  Unit 2: Special People) and provide guidance for schools on talking about different family structures.
• In Lower KS2, we explore similarities and differences (LKS2 Module 1, Unit 2: We Don’t Have To Be The Same) and deepen children’s exploration of family and others in LKS2 Mod2 Unit 2: Family, Friend and Others.
• In Upper KS2, we explore difference once again through the Paradise Street series, including discussion around ‘two mums and two dads’ etc.