Our School Definition of RE:
RE is the teaching of a particular religion's beliefs, customs and values.
Intent Statement - RE
At St Joseph’s School, we are Theologists! As a Catholic school, our aim is that every child achieves their full potential as an individual made in the image and likeness of God. This includes the spiritual, moral, social, academic, physical and creative dimension of each child. Our R.E. curriculum is the vehicle through which we support and nurture children to achieve this potential.
Our intent is for children to learn about faith and learn to live the faith. The Catholic values promoted at St. Joseph’s underpin every aspect of learning in our school and are central to everything we do. This is a place where children and adults unite together, learning in the light of Christ.
We want our children to develop a respect for other beliefs and religions, and appreciate and celebrate the diverse world in which they live. The R.E. curriculum is also about, ‘Belonging,’ it aims to nurture pupils’ awareness of diversity so that all children show respect and tolerance of others and feel like they belong to our very special school community.
As a faith school, we follow the Come and See programme of Catholic Education, as recommended by Catholic Bishops of England and Wales. We intend a religious education that covers all aspects of Catholic education and introduces children to other faiths.
These are the themes as explained by the Come and See programme:
Autumn: Family and Domestic Church, Belonging and Baptism/ Confirmation, and Loving and Advent/Christmas
Spring: Community and Local Church, Relating and Eucharist, and Giving and Lent/Easter
Summer: Serving and Pentecost, Inter-relating and Reconciliation, and World and Universal Church.
We use the interim Age-Related Standards in Religious Education approved for use in Catholic Schools by The Department for Catholic Education and Formation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. These aim to develop a range of skills over the course of primary school in the areas of Knowledge and Understanding, Engagement and Response and moving towards Analysis and Evaluation by the end of Year 6.
Knowledge and Understanding
Our aim is to support our children in developing an outstanding level of religious understanding and knowledge, focused around the Catholic faith and the teachings of Jesus. Children will show increasing knowledge and understanding of a range of religious beliefs and scripture, what it means to belong to a church community, religious signs and symbols and they will be able to use a wide range of religious vocabulary accurately and appropriately.
Engagement and Response
We want children to engage and respond to the R.E. curriculum by comparing their own and other people’s responses to questions about the meaning and purpose of life. Our intent is for children to show an understanding of how their own and other’s decisions are informed by beliefs and moral values.
Analysis and Evaluation
Children will be able to express a viewpoint and give reasons for it before arriving at judgements. They will be able to use sources as evidence to support a point of view and they will be able to make links and connections between a variety of sources as evidence to inform knowledge.
Sacramental knowledge progresses from Baptism in Early Years and Key Stage 1, to Confirmation, Marriage and Ordination in Key Stage 2.
Implementation Statement - RE
At St. Josephs:
Impact Statement - RE
The impact of this curriculum will nurture children who truly live out the gospel values and apply these to everything they do in their lives going forward. Our children will live and breath these values, spreading the gospel messages throughout their lives, helping them to live their unique destiny based on God's plan for them. Our curriculum will lead to outstanding progress over time across key stages relative to a child’s individual starting point and their progression of skills. Children will therefore be expected to leave St. Joseph’s reaching at least age related expectations for R.E. Our R.E. curriculum will also lead pupils to be enthusiastic R.E. learners, evidenced in a range of ways, including pupil voice and their work.
At the end of each year, data is shared with the Diocese of Hallam. Teachers will report termly outcomes based on the learning they see in class and the evidence in children’s books. Teachers have reference to the Interim Age-Related Standards in Religious Education when making decisions about children’s depth of knowledge, understanding and skills.