RE

At St George’s Catholic Primary School, Religious Education lies at the heart of everything we do. We follow the Religious Education Directory (RED): To Know You More Clearly through the Source to the Summit: Lighting the Path programme, which supports pupils in developing a deep understanding of Catholic faith, scripture, prayer and discipleship. Religious Education nurtures each child’s relationship with God and helps them recognise their dignity, value and vocation as members of God’s family.

Intent

Through Religious Education, we aim to:

• Enable pupils to encounter Jesus Christ and deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith.
• Develop religious literacy through engagement with Scripture, Catholic Tradition and Church teaching.
• Foster a sense of wonder, awe and curiosity about God, faith and the world around us.
• Encourage pupils to reflect on questions of meaning, purpose and identity in light of the Gospel.
• Support children in making connections between faith and everyday life, inspiring them to live as disciples of Christ.
• Promote respect and understanding of other faiths and worldviews while nurturing a strong Catholic identity.
• Develop pupils’ ability to think critically, communicate thoughtfully and engage in meaningful dialogue about faith and belief.
• Inspire children to contribute positively to their communities and work for the common good through Catholic Social Teaching.

Implementation

As a Catholic school, Religious Education is a core curriculum subject and is allocated 10% of the weekly timetable.

RE is taught using the Source to the Summit: Lighting the Path programme, which is fully aligned with the Religious Education Directory (To Know You More Clearly). Learning is structured around the following topics:

• Creation and Covenant
• Prophecy and Promise
• Galilee to Jerusalem
• Desert to Garden
• To the Ends of the Earth
• Dialogue and Encounter

Within each area of study, pupils develop the three Ways of Knowing: Understand, Discern and Respond. These strands encourage children not only to acquire religious knowledge, but also to think critically, reflect deeply and consider how faith can influence their lives and actions. Through these interconnected skills, pupils progressively build their understanding of Scripture, theology, prayer and lived experience, developing both religious literacy and a personal response to faith.

Teaching and learning opportunities include:

• Scripture study and reflection.
• Prayer and liturgy.
• Discussion, questioning and theological reflection.
• Opportunities for personal response and spiritual development.
• Exploration of Catholic Social Teaching and its application to daily life.
• Learning about other faiths and religions, promoting respect and dialogue.

Lessons are carefully planned to ensure progression in knowledge, understanding and religious literacy across the school.

Impact

The impact of Religious Education is monitored throughout the year by the RE Lead and SLT through:

• Ongoing teacher assessment of pupils’ knowledge, understanding and religious literacy.
• Moderation of pupils’ work across year groups.
• Book scrutinies and learning walks.
• Monitoring of teaching and learning by subject leaders and senior leaders.
• Pupil voice and discussions about learning.
• Evaluation of prayer, liturgy and opportunities for spiritual growth.

 

As a result, pupils develop a secure understanding of the Catholic faith, demonstrate increasing religious literacy and are able to make meaningful connections between faith and life. They grow as reflective, compassionate and active members of both the school community and the wider world.

Progress and achievement in Religious Education are reported annually to parents and carers and shared regularly with Governors.