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Religious Education

Staff recognise and understand the distinctive features of teaching and learning in a Catholic school. The majority of our teachers are practising Catholics along with many Teaching Assistants. Teachers approach Religious Education with enthusiasm and creativity and make lessons interesting and fun for the children. We strive to provide teaching and learning opportunities that lead children to bear witness to their Christian living and their growing faith. Teaching is very well matched to the needs and capabilities of all children. Work is differentiated according to the level of the children taught and support is planned for vulnerable groups of children including SEN, and also our children who are working at Greater Depth.

Religious Education is the core and foundation of our entire school curriculum. It permeates every aspect of school life and learning. Teachers use Sacred Scripture as a basis for teaching Religious Education across all Key stages. They plan for and teach RE through the Come and See Scheme of Work for years Rec to Y6, following the Diocesan guidelines. We encourage all children to engage with the ‘Big Questions’ in life, through higher-order questioning and thinking across all RE lessons (and other curriculum areas). Through these regular reflections, our children learn to know and love Jesus, and develop an increasing understanding of how we all share in His Good News.

As a Catholic School, we devote 10% of curriculum time to the teaching of Religious Education; this is separate from times of prayer and collective worship, such as assemblies, liturgies and class prayer which happen in addition to the taught curriculum. This means 2.5 hours a week of taught RE for pupils in Reception to Year 6.

As well as covering the delivery of Catholic Education, 'Come and See' also contains the resources and units required for us to regularly teach children about other world religions, in order that they develop an appreciation for faith in a wider sense and are appreciative and respectful of the religious beliefs, practices and observances of others thus enabling them to be responsible and constructive members of the multi-cultural, multi-faith society in which they live.

Preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are completed both in school and with the Parish community. During Year 3, the RE curriculum also supports children in this journey towards fuller participation in the Mass and the life of the Church.

We regularly monitor the planning and teaching of RE. We expect our Teachers to deepen their children’s’ understanding of the Word of God, and nurture a holy curiosity through their teaching. We have very high expectations of the staff and monitor RE lessons against the same criteria as all other areas of the curriculum. Teaching across the curriculum ensures our children have an effective understanding of the Catholic faith.

We use assessment in RE to monitor individual and class progress. We assess RE at the end of each topic using "check outs" and assess during lessons using a wide variety of activities.

We carry out pupil progress meetings each term to ensure all children are making progress.

Lesson observations, book scrutinies and discussions with children show good progress throughout school and increasing self-reflection. Our observations show that the standard of work in our RE books is as good as, if not better than, the work in our English books.

Our Resources are well-funded. Staff regularly attend CPD, and we dedicate at least one INSET day each year to RE, along with three termly staff meetings. Governors are kept up to date with the standards of teaching and learning in RE through termly reports.