Teaching Religious Education
“I am the vine; you are the branches.” — John 15:5
At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Religious Education is at the heart of our curriculum and our school community. Our mission, “Love one another as I have loved you,” underpins all that we do.
Through Religious Education, we want every child to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith, encounter Jesus Christ, ask thoughtful questions and understand how faith can be lived out in their everyday lives.
Our RE Curriculum – The Vine and the Branches
We follow The Vine and the Branches, the Religious Education Directory for Catholic schools.
The image of the vine reminds us that our faith grows and develops throughout our lives. Just as branches grow from and remain connected to the vine, each new area of learning builds upon what children have previously encountered.
Across their time at St Joseph’s, children revisit and deepen their understanding of six key branches:
Creation and Covenant
Children explore God as Creator, the dignity of every person and our responsibility to care for creation.
Prophecy and Promise
Children learn about the prophets, God’s promises and the story of salvation, with a particular focus on the season of Advent.
Galilee to Jerusalem
Children encounter Jesus through the Gospels, exploring his life, ministry, teaching, miracles and call to discipleship.
Desert to Garden
Through Lent and Easter, children explore Jesus’ journey to the Cross, his Resurrection and the hope of new life.
To the Ends of the Earth
Children learn about the Holy Spirit, Pentecost, the early Church and the mission of Christians to share the Good News.
Dialogue and Encounter
Children learn about other Christian traditions, religions and worldviews, developing respect, understanding and an appreciation of the beliefs of others.
How Do We Teach RE?
Our RE lessons are carefully planned so that children do much more than simply remember facts about religion.
Children are encouraged to know, understand, think, discuss, question, reflect and respond.
Lessons may include:
- exploring and responding to Scripture
- learning about Catholic beliefs, traditions and teachings
- discussion and purposeful questioning
- art, music, drama and creative responses
- prayer and reflection
- exploring religious artwork, symbols and sacred objects
- making connections between Scripture and life today
- considering how Christians are called to put their faith into action
- learning about and from other faiths and worldviews.
Teachers regularly return to important prior learning so that children's knowledge becomes secure and connections are made between different areas of RE. Key vocabulary and important knowledge are revisited throughout the year.
Knowing More and Remembering More
Our RE curriculum is carefully sequenced from EYFS to Year 6.
As children move through school, they encounter important concepts again at increasing levels of depth. Teachers make links to previous learning and use questioning, discussion and retrieval activities to help children remember important knowledge and apply it to new learning.
We want our pupils to be able to explain what Catholics believe, why they believe it and how those beliefs influence the way Christians live.
Scripture at the Heart of Learning
Sacred Scripture is central to our teaching of RE.
Children encounter stories and passages from both the Old and New Testaments and, as they grow older, develop an increasingly rich understanding of their meaning and significance.
We encourage children to listen carefully to Scripture, explore its meaning, ask questions and consider what God's Word might mean for Christians and for their own lives today.
RE for Every Child
We believe every child should be able to participate fully and succeed in Religious Education.
Teaching is adapted appropriately to meet individual needs, including those of pupils with SEND. Children are given different ways to demonstrate their understanding, including through discussion, practical and creative responses as well as written work.
The quality of a child's religious understanding is therefore not judged solely by how much they are able to write.
How We Assess RE
Assessment is an important part of teaching and learning in Religious Education.
Teachers assess children's understanding through their written work, discussions, questioning, observations and responses during lessons. This allows teachers to identify what children understand securely, address misconceptions and plan appropriate next steps.
Assessment is used to support future teaching, and staff take part in moderation to ensure that judgements are consistent across the school. Our approach also deliberately returns to prior knowledge so that children retain and build upon the important knowledge they have learned.
RE Beyond the Classroom
Religious Education at St Joseph’s is not confined to an RE lesson.
Our learning is brought to life through the Catholic Life and Mission of our school. Children experience daily prayer, Celebration of the Word, whole-school worship, Masses and opportunities to celebrate important events in the Church's liturgical year.
Children are increasingly encouraged to take an active role in the prayer life of the school, including opportunities to become prayer leaders within their classes.
Our class prayer spaces provide a focal point for prayer and reflection and change throughout the liturgical year and in response to children's RE learning.
Living Out Our Faith
We want children to understand that faith calls us to action.
Our school values of Service, Justice and Love help children understand how the teachings of Jesus can shape the choices we make and the way we treat others. These values sit at the heart of our vision of creating a welcoming and caring community of faith.
Children are given opportunities to put their faith into action through charitable work and outreach, including supporting organisations such as CAFOD, Mission Together and the Good Shepherd Appeal.
Families and Our Parish Community
Parents, carers and our parish community are important partners in the faith life of St Joseph’s.
Throughout the year, families are invited to join us for opportunities such as Stay and Pray, Masses, celebrations and other special occasions. These shared experiences allow our children, families, school and parish to pray and celebrate together.
Growing Together in Faith
Ultimately, our aim is for every child at St Joseph’s to leave us with a rich knowledge of the Catholic faith, a love and understanding of Scripture, respect for the beliefs of others and an understanding that faith is something we are called to live.
Like branches growing from a vine, we want our children to continue to grow in faith, knowledge, love and service, recognising their own unique gifts and using them to make a positive difference in our local and global community.
“Love one another as I have loved you.”