Religious Education
St John Fisher Catholic Primary School
Religious Education: Curriculum Statement
Religious Education
Intent:
Through the study of Religious Education, St John Fisher Catholic Primary children will become visible disciples of Jesus. We aim to educate our children and guide them in becoming religiously literate young people who will pass on the gift of faith to future generations. Every individual will be recognised and valued as special and unique in the image and likeness of God.
At St John Fisher we will:
Instil in each child a desire to live out the Gospel values of Love, Faith, Hope, Justice, Wisdom, Respect and Courage
Respect and promote each child’s innate capacity for awe, wonder, spirituality and reverence
Provide opportunities to master the core skills in RE
Explore ways to ensure children are mentally and emotionally happy as well as spiritually enlightened
Enable each child to develop a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith and become culturally literate individuals who respect themselves and others
Promote the individual God-given talents and abilities of pupils to ensure that each child fulfils his or her potential
Teach them about their unique place within the home, school and parish community as well as their responsibility to care for the environment
In the school community we live by our mission statement:
Growing and learning together with Christ
Children will meet the Diocesan Standards for Primary Religious Education, which will be taught by highly qualified staff who will engage children’s intellect, creativity and imagination, inspiring enthusiasm and interest in RE.
Our principal aim is that children leave St John Fisher School with a wide range of happy memories in RE formed through interesting and rich experiences driven by an engaging and comprehensive curriculum that enables them to have a living faith in Jesus and allows them to know and love God.
Implementation:
RE is the core of the entire education process and permeates all areas of the curriculum and school life. 10% of teaching time is dedicated to RE and children take part in a daily act of worship (assemblies and child-led class collective worships).
At St John Fisher we use the ‘In God’s Name’ resources compiled by Dr Margaret Carswell as a basis for our curriculum; this is supported by the diocesan Rooted in Love and Caritas Love in Action programmes for teaching Catholic Social Teaching and another faith is taught termly. We offer a whole school approach to RE, one in which all pupils explore a common theology or practice at an age-appropriate level.
Our curriculum presents a Catholic world-view through learning about the Traditions of the Church, Human Experience, Creation and Scripture, named as the sources of revelation in Dei Verbum. Arranged to cycle through the life of Jesus as the Catholic Church does, the resource is framed around the Liturgical Year. Children will learn about God’s love, their responsibilities as Christians, as well as being taught to be respectful and understanding of people from other faith backgrounds.
Over a three-year cycle children will hear the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, while we move through the seasons of Advent, Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time. Links between resources develop naturally; theologies introduced in one unit are consolidated in another. Using the structure of the Composite Model, the resources preference the Catholic story while acknowledging a multi-faith world.
Children will be highly engaged in RE lessons through the use of a variety of sources such as religious stories, scripture, religious artwork, songs, music, dance and religious signs and symbols.
The life and work of key figures in the history of the people of God will be studied, for example, lives of the saints especially our school and house saints (Southworth, Clitherow, Romero).
Approaches will include whole class teaching, group activities and individual work. Children will have opportunities to work individually as well as cooperatively and collaboratively, developing their own knowledge and expertise as well as sharing experiences with others.
The use of visits and visitors in school will enhance the RE curriculum.
Pupils will participate in masses/liturgies for feast days/Holy days/end of term celebrations as well as daily collective worship, which will involve religious actions. They will also celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Children will be given plenty of additional opportunities to get involved in the Catholic Life of the school (Rosary Club, Faith Club, Catholic Life Ambassadors) and to carry out their duty for the Common Good (raising money for charities, putting Love into Action).
There will be opportunities for the home, school and parish to work together.
Impact:
Having received rich and exciting experiences children are happy learners in RE and know they are loved by God.
Children live out the Gospel values on a daily basis.
The majority of children are working at age related expectations or above by the end of EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 having developed and mastered the key skills in RE.
Children develop their moral and spiritual nature; faith plays a central role in the lives of the children and the decisions they make.
Children are prepared for life in a multi faith society by fostering respect for and understanding of rich cultural diversity.
Through RE, children deepen their appreciation of their faith and fulfil their God-given talents.
Children are active members in the communities they live in and understand their role as stewards of creation.
Children are well prepared for the next stage of their education as confident, enthusiastic and self-managing learners who are witness to Christ in their words and actions.
Ultimately, children develop their relationship with God and become religiously literate.
The leader for Religious Education is Michelle Briggs.