Mrs Byrne and Mrs Brown are our contacts for this curriculum area.

St Francis Catholic Primary School
RE Curriculum Intent

The Catholic life of our school and the teaching of RE is rooted in the belief that every child is unique and made the image of God. RE in our schools is not only taught as a curriculum area but as a way of life, promoting the gospel values, giving praise and reverence to God. It is an opportunity for everyone to develop their own personal faith through encounter with God through prayer, scripture and missionary discipleship in the footsteps of Jesus and St. Francis.

This is achieved through collective worship, assemblies, RE lessons, cross curricular activities, charity work and roles and responsibilities throughout the school which deepen our Catholic life and our belief that Christ is at the centre of everything that we do.

Pope Francis on Prayer: ‘Let us keep the flame of faith alive through prayer and the sacraments: let us make sure we do not forget God. Prayer, humility and charity towards all are essential in the Christian life: they are the way to holiness’

Aims

  • To nurture our children and staff in the Catholic Faith
  • To develop the children’s knowledge and understanding of the Catholic Faith and other religious traditions, through a rich and engaging RE provision and by following the Gospel values and providing opportunities for prayer, worship and spiritual growth
  • To provide a living example of Gospel Values in our relationships with one another
  • To provide a high quality education rooted in Gospel values where each child develops to their full potential and enable them to become responsible, respectful and faith-filled members of society.

Implementation

RE

RE is a core subject in our school and as such, all year groups devote 10% of teaching time to the teaching of RE. This comprises 2 hours of curriculum time in KS1 and 2.5 hours of curriculum time in KS2. This time is in addition to liturgies, masses, acts of worship and prayer.

The school teaches RE using the ‘To Know You More Clearly’ programme from the new Religious Education Directory. This programme is compulsory for all Catholic schools from September 2026.

Based on the constitutions of the Second Vatican Council and rooted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the objective of the new programme  is to produce religiously literate and engaged young people, with the knowledge, understanding and skills to reflect spiritually, think ethically and theologically, and recognise the demands of religious commitment in everyday life. While nurturing the faith of Catholic pupils, the curriculum prepares all pupils to play their part as critical citizens in a plural and diverse culture.
There is also a focus on the beauty of Catholicism and its influence on culture through art, music, literature, science, and architecture, equipping young people to engage with the Church beyond intellectual remits.
RE LTP 20252026
RE Curriculum Rationale RED
Branches and Lenses
There are six branches in ‘To know You More Clearly’ – one per half term. The branches are:
  1. Creation and Covenant
  2. Prophecy and Promise
  3. From Galilee to Jerusalem
  4. From Desert to Garden
  5. To the Ends of the Earth
  6. Dialogue and Encounter
Each branch follows:
  • Here
  • Believe
  • Celebrate
  • Live

At the end of each branch and lenses the children will:

  • Understand
  • Discern
  • Respond

Link with our Convent Sisters

 

We visit the Convent Chapel for Mass and for Adoration.

Inclusion

The dignity of the human person and the belief that all humans are made in the image and likeness of God underpins our SEND provision. All children have equal access to the RE curriculum, regardless of religion, gender, culture or special educational needs. RE lessons and collective worship are designed so that the whole school community, as the body of Christ, are able to fully participate.

Leadership

The Head Teacher and RE coordinator are responsible for leading and developing the teaching of RE and the development and enrichment of the Catholic life of the school. The Head Teacher leads Catholic life and Collective Worship, and the RE coordinator leads the teaching of RE.

Assessment

The progress of children is assessed using formative and summative assessment. RE is the first subject discussed during pupil progress meeting to ensure that all groups of pupils are supported to make at least expected progress.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The RE subject leader and SLT monitor the effectiveness of teaching through regular learning walks, and book scrutinies. Strengths and areas for development are identified so that targets for improvement are supportive in driving the effectiveness of teaching and learning.

Peer coaching is used to foster the improvement of teaching, so that teachers reflect on, and develop their own practice.

Sacramental Preparation

Preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist currently takes place in Year Three but is open to all KS2 children who are baptised Catholics. This is led by catechists from the parish community and the parish priest.