Religious Education

Religious Education – To Know You More Clearly

Our Religious Education programme, To Know You More Clearly, holds a central position with the school curriculum. Sacraments celebrated during the primary phase include:

• Reconciliation
• Holy Communion

Religious Education seeks not only to impart knowledge but also to develop understanding of religious experiences, feelings and attitudes. It is concerned with the spiritual growth of the individual, both in relation to the school and parish community.

The new programme of study goes beyond the traditional curriculum, encouraging children to explore their faith through lens of curiosity and introspection. Through engaging lessons, thoughtful reflections, and interactive activities, ‘To Know You More Clearly’ creates a dynamic learning environment that encourages children to connect with their spirituality on a personal level.

This program not only imparts knowledge but also cultivates a genuine and enduring relationship with God, contributing to the overall spiritual development of the students.

Scripture is the foundation of each Branch and will develop knowledge, understanding, skills, compassion and awe and wonder across the curriculum.

The Ways of Knowing:

The ways of knowing describe the skills that pupils develop as they progress through the religious education curriculum. These are:

Understand

In this way of knowing, the aim is to help pupils understand deeply the meaning of sacred texts, religious beliefs, sacred rites, and the lives of individuals and communities who are shaped by these texts, beliefs and rites.

Discern

In this way of knowing, the aim is to help pupils be able to judge wisely in response to different interpretations of the meaning, significance and implications of texts, beliefs, rites, and ways of life so that they can arrive at justified conclusions about what is true, what is good and what is beautiful.

Respond

In this way of knowing, the aim is to help pupils reflect personally and with integrity on what they have learnt and consider the implications for action these may have in their own lives and the world in which they live. 

Knowledge Lenses:

The knowledge lenses indicate what should be known by the end of each age phase. They are referred to as lenses since they are what we are looking at. These are:

Hear

The first knowledge lens is called ‘Hear’ and discusses the human capacity for God, Divine Revelation, and its transmission, Sacred Scripture, and the human response to God’s invitation. It is called ‘hear’ because it focuses on the Word of God, which we hear.

Believe

The second knowledge lens is called ‘Believe’ and deals with the contents of the Creed. It is called ‘believe’ because it focuses on the content of the Church’s own profession of faith. In this lens, we look at those doctrines that constitute our faith: trinity, incarnation, the Holy Spirit, the communion of saints, the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Celebrate

The third knowledge lens is called ‘Celebrate’ and is an exemplification of the Catechism that deals with liturgy and prayer. It is called ‘celebrate’ because it deals with the liturgy in which the Church celebrates the Paschal mystery of Christ. In this lens we look at prayer, liturgy, and sacrament: sacraments of initiation, the Eucharist, sacraments of healing, sacraments at the service of communion, and other liturgies and sacramentals.

Live

The fourth knowledge lens is called ‘Live’ and is an exemplification of Catholic social teaching and deals with the ways in which the disciples of Christ are called to be in the world. It is called ‘live’ because it focuses on the impact of faith on how Christians live. In this lens, we look at the dignity of the human person; freedom, conscience, and virtue; law, grace, and sin.

Dialogue

The fifth knowledge lens is called ‘Dialogue’ and is an exemplification of the Church’s teaching on the relationship between Catholicism and other Christian traditions along with Catholicism and other religions and worldviews. It is called ‘Dialogue’ as this is the only authentic way of living faithfully in a world that accepts difference.   

Encounter

The sixth knowledge lens is called ‘Encounter’ and is when children engage in a discrete study of other faiths, religions and worldviews. It focuses on the importance of loving our neighbours and respecting other cultures and learning how to live peacefully with difference.

Evaluation of teaching

• Planning is evaluated by the RE Coordinator.
• Teaching is observed and evaluated by the RE Coordinator and the Head teacher.
• ECTs and supply teachers are supported by the RE Coordinator.
• The Head teacher takes decisions about classroom observations based on the level of need. Judgements are made on the extent to which teachers have a secure knowledge and understanding of the faith and the programme in use. High expectations should be evident, and appropriate planning is evident.
• Teachers are encouraged to have high expectations of teaching and work produced, with appropriate planning in place.