Religious Education at St Joseph's

 

 

RE Curriculum Statement

INTENT

At St Joseph's, we are committed to the Catholic faith and value every individual as special and unique, created in the image and likeness of God. We recognise Religious Education as a core curriculum subject and, as such, it is taught with the same high status as other curriculum areas. The Gospel values and teachings of the Catholic Church permeate all aspects of school life and are reflected in everything we do.

Religious Education at St Joseph's respects and nurtures each child's innate capacity for wonder, awe, reverence and spirituality. Through the effective use of the Vine and the Branches programme, our curriculum supports children on their faith journey in a progressive and meaningful way, enabling them to grow in religious knowledge, understanding and literacy.

Children learn about God's love and their Christian responsibilities, while developing an understanding of Catholic traditions, practices and beliefs. They are provided with meaningful experiences of Church life and opportunities to deepen their relationship with God through prayer, reflection and worship.

We also teach children about other world faiths and religions, promoting respect, understanding and appreciation of different beliefs and cultures. Opportunities to visit a variety of places of worship further enrich their learning and broaden their understanding of the world around them.

The promotion of British Values is integral to the development of our pupils. Through Religious Education, children learn the importance of tolerance, mutual respect, compassion and dignity for all.

Through their Religious Education learning, our children develop an understanding of their unique place within their family, school, parish and the wider global community, encouraging them to become responsible, caring and active citizens who live out the Gospel values in their daily lives.

IMPLEMENTATION

Teaching

At St Joseph's, Religious Education is a core subject. Ten per cent of curriculum time is allocated to the teaching of Religious Education, excluding Collective Worship. This equates to two dedicated RE lessons each week, taught on separate days.

Planning

Planning for EYFS and Years 1-6 is based on the Vine and the Branches programme, in accordance with the Religious Education Directory for Catholic Schools. Class teachers use this scheme to ensure effective curriculum coverage while providing appropriate challenge and engaging learning opportunities. Lessons are adapted where necessary to meet the needs of all pupils and to ensure that every child can access and succeed within the curriculum.

Each unit of learning provides opportunities for pupils to make meaningful connections between the concepts being studied and their own lives and experiences.

Across Each Key Stage

Scripture is at the heart of the RE curriculum. Pupils explore the Word of God, its meaning within its historical context, and its relevance to life today. This learning is enriched through a variety of approaches, including reading and reflecting on Bible passages, watching scriptural video clips, exploring contemporary and historical religious artwork, learning about inspirational faith figures, participating in guided meditations and singing hymns.

Children develop a secure understanding of Catholic doctrine and the beliefs that underpin it. They explore the traditions and practices of the Catholic faith, helping them to deepen their knowledge and understanding of their own faith journey. Pupils also learn about other faiths and religions at designated points throughout the year, fostering respect, understanding and appreciation of different beliefs and cultures.

Pupils are supported in developing their prayer life throughout their time at St Joseph's. They are taught a range of traditional Catholic prayers and are encouraged to write their own prayers, contribute to shared class prayers and participate confidently in spontaneous prayer. This enables them to engage more fully in Masses, liturgies and other acts of worship.

Religious Education is taught through a range of engaging and creative activities. Written work is complemented by discussion, drama, art, music, technology-based learning, presentations and collaborative tasks. This variety of learning opportunities helps to make RE both distinctive and memorable.

All pupils have opportunities to learn about other world faiths throughout the school year, including Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism. Where possible, classes visit places of worship to enhance and consolidate their learning through first-hand experiences.

With the support of our Parish Priest, Canon Nicholas James, who plays an active role in the faith development of our pupils, a strong sense of respect, reverence and spirituality is nurtured throughout the school. These values are evident in RE lessons, Collective Worship and daily school life. They are modelled by staff and embraced by pupils, contributing to the distinctive Catholic ethos of St Joseph's.

Assessment

Assessments in Religious Education are based upon the Catholic Education Service (CES) Age‑Related Standards in Religious Education (2018). These standards remain the national benchmark for RE in Catholic schools and cover the following attainment targets: AT1 Knowledge and Understanding, AT2 Engagement and Response, and AT3 Analysis and Evaluation (KS2 only).

Within the Vine and the Branches curriculum, learning objectives are organised using the following codes:

• U – Understand
• R – Reflect
• D – Discern
• A – Analyse (KS2)
• E – Evaluate (KS2)

These codes describe the type of learning taking place, while the CES Attainment Targets describe how pupils are assessed. Each U, R, D, A or E statement maps directly onto AT1, AT2, or AT3, ensuring that all learning within each Branch is assessed in line with national expectations.

Assessment Sheets

The school uses Branch assessment sheets for each unit of work. These sheets support the delivery of the RE Directory and the Vine and the Branches curriculum by:

• identifying the relevant CES Attainment Target(s)
• outlining year‑group‑specific learning outcomes
• providing clear, pupil‑friendly success criteria
• ensuring consistency and progression across all classes

This approach ensures that assessment remains rooted in the CES standards while being directly connected to the curriculum taught in each year group.

 

IMPACT

At St Joseph's, we ensure that pupils:

• Develop a deep sense of respect and reverence for their own faith and for the beliefs and traditions of others.
• Build confidence in prayer through a range of prayer experiences, supporting them on their individual faith journeys.
• Foster an enthusiasm for Religious Education through engaging, meaningful and challenging learning experiences.
• Develop a sense of awe and wonder as they explore, question and reflect upon God's presence in the world.
• Gain knowledge and understanding of key Scripture passages and Gospel teachings that underpin the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church.
• Grow in their ability to reflect, discern and respond thoughtfully to religious and spiritual questions.
• Recognise their role within their family, school, parish and wider community, living out Gospel values in their daily lives.

The high-quality provision of Religious Education enables pupils to make strong progress in this core curriculum subject. Through their learning, children develop religious literacy, deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith and grow spiritually, morally and socially.

As a result, pupils flourish as unique individuals, growing in faith, knowledge and confidence as they live out our mission statement and seek to follow the example and teachings of Christ.

Learning all about other faiths in RE

It is important to us that our children see themselves as part of a wider community. Through visits, visitors and first-hand experiences, pupils learn about the shared values and beliefs of different faiths, developing respect, understanding and appreciation of diversity.

From EYFS to Year 6, children study a range of world religions, including Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism. This helps pupils to recognise both the similarities and differences between faith traditions while deepening their understanding of their own beliefs and values.

Judaism

Our Mission statement is re-affirmed by staff, parents, governors and children working together. It brings together their beliefs of the purpose and daily mission at the heart of our school.

Religious Education at St Joseph’s

Our rich Religious Education curriculum places our Catholic faith at its heart and fully reflects the requirements of the Religious Education Directory.

We are greatly blessed to be supported by our Parish Priest, Canon Nicholas James, who plays an active role in the faith life of our school. At the beginning and end of each term, we celebrate Mass together as a school community, strengthening the links between home, school and parish.

Canon Nick regularly visits classes to support pupils' understanding of Scripture and the themes explored within their Religious Education topics. Through these visits, he helps children to make meaningful connections between Gospel teachings and their everyday lives. His guidance and encouragement support pupils as they grow in faith and deepen their understanding of what it means to live as followers of Christ.

Children also have regular opportunities to attend Mass at church throughout the year. These experiences help them to develop a greater understanding of the liturgical life of the Church and encourage them to participate actively and reverently in worship.

Through our close partnership with the parish, pupils experience the Church as a living community and are supported in their journey of faith, enabling them to grow spiritually and live out the values of the Gospel in their daily lives.

 

 

 

OUR LENTEN PROMISES

 

At St Joseph’s, prayer and liturgy are at the heart of school life and play a vital role in supporting pupils’ spiritual development. Children are given regular opportunities to praise and thank God through traditional Catholic prayers and a variety of other forms of prayer. We encourage pupils to develop a relationship with God through words, symbols, song, gesture and silence. Prayer is woven throughout the school day and is a natural and integral part of our Catholic community.

 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

 All children who are preparing for, or have received, their First Holy Communion are able to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in school with Canon Nicholas James during both Advent and Lent. Through these experiences, pupils deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith, participate actively in the sacramental life of the Church, and strengthen their relationship with God. These opportunities help children to grow in faith, develop a sense of belonging within the parish community, and live out the values of the Gospel in their daily lives.

The Sacrament of the Eucharist

With the support of Canon Nicholas James, children are prepared for their First Holy Communion, which they receive at St Frances of Rome Church in Ross-on-Wye. The programme is led by Mrs Finlay and Mrs Spray who work closely with the children and their families to help them grow in their understanding of the Eucharist and prepare to receive this important sacrament. Through their guidance and support, the children are encouraged to deepen their faith and strengthen their relationship with God.