St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School

Religious Education Curriculum Intent

Catholic schools, with RE at their core, exist in order to "help parents, priests and teachers to hand on the Deposit of Faith in its fullness to a new generation of young people so that they may come to understand the richness of the Catholic faith, and thereby be drawn into a deeper communion with Christ in his Church." (Religious Education Curriculum Directory pvii).

At St. Augustine of Canterbury, Religious Education is central to the life of our school.  We aim to educate our children and guide them in becoming religiously literate young people who will in turn pass on the gift of faith to future generations. We want every child to be happy and enthusiastic learners of RE, and to be eager to achieve their very best in order to fulfil their God-given talents.

Our principal aim is that children leave St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School with a wide range of happy and rich memories in RE formed through interesting and exciting experiences driven through an engaging and comprehensive curriculum which is the basis of knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith, enabling them to develop a living and personal faith in Jesus Christ and allowing them to know and love God.

Children will leave with the Knowledge and Understanding, skills of Engagement and Response and Analysis and Evaluation as outlined in the Age-Related Standards for Primary Religious Education.

Implementation

Children will receive 10% curriculum time dedicated to Religious Education in each class across the school. We implement the areas of study from the Religious Education Curriculum Directory (RECD) through our use of a spiral and progressive scheme of work - Come and See.

RE is taught discretely but plays a central role in all areas of school life.

Children are highly engaged in RE lessons through the use of a variety of sources such as religious stories, scripture, religious artwork, songs, music, liturgical dance and religious signs and symbols.

As well as following the Come and See scheme of work, we also plan opportunities to learn about events in the liturgical year, as well as the life and work of key figures in the history of the people of God will be studied for example, lives of the saints.

Children will participate in Mass, feast days, Holy days; collective worship which will involve religious actions and worship including the celebration of the sacraments.

The use of visits and visitors in school will enhance the RE curriculum.

The outcome of excellent Religious Education is religiously literate and engaged young people who have the knowledge, understanding and skills – appropriate to their age and capacity – to reflect spiritually, and think ethically and theologically, and who are aware of the demands of religious commitment in everyday life (Religious Education Curriculum Directory p6).

Through RE, children deepen their appreciation of their faith and fulfil their God-given talents. They will live their faith in an active and positive way, always aware of the presence and love of Christ guiding them. Children will show compassion, justice, love and forgiveness in their relationships with others. They are confident, resilient and actively engaged in the wider society.

Children of all abilities and backgrounds achieve well in RE against the age-related standards, reflected in good or outstanding progress. They talk enthusiastically about their learning in RE and are happy learners. The school environment will reflect and celebrate our Catholic faith.