RE
Aims and Objectives
St Charles’ School is a Catholic Community which aims to provide the best possible education for our children. Each individual is encouraged to grow in the love and knowledge of God and Christ’s teaching. An effective partnership is encouraged between families, parish and school. This provides an environment of love and respect, security and confidence, which allows every child to achieve his or her full potential - and be happy.
We aim to:
- Ensure that the school has a well-planned and stimulating Religious Education programme;
- Bring the children into a closer relationship with God by studying the Gospels and Christ’s teaching;
- Provide a sound basis for the development of each individual and to enable the interactions and personal examples of us all to reflect Christ’s teaching and example;
- Ensure that prayer is an integral part of school life, whether simple spontaneous prayer or formal prayer;
- Encourage full, conscious and active participation in worship, prayer and liturgy, so that they become meaningful and spiritual experiences;
- Recognise that religious growth and development demands wider experience than that which can be offered as timetabled RE lessons;
- Develop an awareness of God’s presence in his or her life and respond to God’s invitation to enter into a personal relationship with Him, thus enabling him or her to become a positive Christian member of society.
Purpose of Religious Education
The partnership between home, parish and school is the best setting for the formation of maturing young people. In the life of the faith of the Catholic school, religious education plays a central and vital part. At the heart of Catholic education lies the Christian vision of the human person. This vision is expressed and explored in religious education. Therefore, religious education is never simply one subject among many, but the foundation of the entire educational process. The beliefs and values studied in Catholic religious education inspire and draw together every aspect of the life of a Catholic school.
We are committed to classroom R.E., then, because all pupils have the right to receive an overall education which will enable them, in the light of the faith of the church, to engage with the deepest questions of life and find reason for the hope which is within them (1 Peter 3:15). Religious education is, then, the core subject in a Catholic school.
RE teaching in a Catholic school will be enlightened by the faith of the school community and by the faith of the RE teacher. Its educational focus will be informed and enhanced by the vitality of the faith. For some in the classroom, religious education may well be received as catechesis, deepening and enhancing their personal faith; for some it will be evangelisation, the first time they will have been presented, personally, with the truths of living faith. Nevertheless, its primary purpose is the step by step study of the mystery of Christ, the teaching of the Church and its application in daily life. The criteria by which it is to be judged are educational.
Curriculum
At St Charles, we allocate 10% of the curriculum time to Religious Education; we follow the Salford Diocesan Religious Education Guidelines which advocates the use of Come and See as a core academic scheme of work. This is complemented by CARITAS in Action which promotes child led activities in social outreach, modelled by the Caritas Ambassadors. Class and Whole School Worship also aim to be child led, modelled by the GIFT Team, developing prayer and meditation techniques such as mindfulness, as well as praise and singing. We have high expectations; tasks given to pupils will be clearly focused and sufficiently demanding; it includes analysis, reflection, critical appreciation of sources and examples, and a real sense of progression through the different stages of education.
Early Years:
Knowledge and Understanding: Learning About Religion (AT1)
To listen and talk about religious stories and make relevant comments; express stories through music and dance; represent their own ideas; develop their own narratives and explanations; read and understand simple sentences from Scripture; share religious stories with others; listen, talk or roleplay similarities and differences in relation to places they have read or heard about family, church communities and religious stories; listen, talk about and role play how people act in a particular way because of their beliefs; listen, talk about and role play how people act in a particular way because of their beliefs; listen and talk about key figures in the history of the People of God; listen, talk about and role play how people behave in the local, national and universal church community; listen and talk about religious signs and symbols used in worship, including the celebration of the Sacraments; Use religious signs and symbols in role play; decode key religious words appropriate to their age and stage of development; use key religious words appropriate to their age and stage of development.
Engagement and Response: Learning from Religion (AT2)
Answer ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions about their experiences and in response to religious stories or events; show sensitivity to others’ needs and feelings; talk about how they and others show feelings; confidently speak in a familiar group and talk about their ideas; express themselves effectively, showing awareness of listeners’ needs; give their attention to what others say and respond appropriately; talk about their own and others’ behaviour and its consequences; talk about past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family members; know that other children don’t always enjoy and share the same feelings and are sensitive to this.
By the end of Year 1 and 2
Knowledge and Understanding: Learning About Religion (AT1)
Recognise religious stories; retell, in any form, a narrative that corresponds to the scripture source used; recognise religious beliefs; recognise that people act in a particular way because of their beliefs; describe some of the actions and choices of believers that arise because of their belief; recognise key figures in the history of the People of God; describe the life and work of some key figures in the history of the People of God; recognise key people in the local, national and universal Church; describe different roles of some people in the local, national and universal Church; recognise religious signs and symbols used in worship, including the celebration of the Sacraments; describe some religious symbols and the steps involved in religious actions and worship, including the celebration of the Sacraments; use religious words and phrases.
Engagement and Response: Learning from Religion (AT2)
Say what they wonder about; ask wondering questions about all of the areas of study and recognize that some questions are difficult to answer; talk about their own feelings, experiences and the things that matter to them; ask and respond to questions about their own and others’ feelings, experiences and things that matter to them.
By the end of Year 3 and 4
Knowledge and Understanding: Learning About Religion (AT1)
Retell a narrative that is accurate in its sequence and details and that corresponds to the scripture source used; describe, with increasing detail and accuracy a range of religious beliefs; describe, with increasing detail and accuracy those actions of believers which arise as a consequence of their beliefs; describe, with increasing detail and accuracy the life and work of key figures in the history of the People of God; describe, with increasing detail and accuracy different roles of people in the local, national and universal Church; describe, with increasing detail and accuracy religious symbols and the steps involved in religious actions and worship, including the celebration of the Sacraments; make links between beliefs and sources, giving reasons for beliefs; make links between beliefs and worship, giving reasons for actions and symbols; make links between beliefs and life, giving reasons for actions and choices; use a range of religious vocabulary.
Engagement and Response: Learning from Religion (AT2)
Ask and respond to questions about their own and others’ experiences and feelings about each of the areas of study, in relation to questions of meaning and purpose; Make links to show how feelings and beliefs affect their behaviour and that of others.
Analysis and Evaluation (AT3)
Use a given source to support a point of view; express a point of view; express a preference.
By the end of Year 5 and 6
Knowledge and Understanding: Learning About Religion (AT1)
Show knowledge and understanding of a range of scripture passages that corresponds to the scripture source used; show knowledge and understanding of a range of religious beliefs; show knowledge and understanding of those actions of believers which arise as a consequence of their beliefs; show knowledge and understanding of the life and work of key figures in the history of the People of God; show knowledge and understanding of what it means to belong to a church community; show knowledge and understanding of religious symbols and the steps involved in religious actions and worship, including the celebration of the Sacraments; show understanding of, by making links between beliefs and sources; Show understanding of, by making links between beliefs and worship; show understanding of, by making links between beliefs and life use religious vocabulary widely, accurately and appropriately.
Engagement and Response: Learning from Religion (AT2)
Compare their own and other people’s responses to questions about each of the areas of study, in relation to questions of meaning and purpose; show understanding of how own and other’s decisions are informed by beliefs and moral values.
Analysis and Evaluation (AT3)
Use sources to support a point of view; express a point of view and give reasons for it; arrive at judgements; recognise difference, comparing and contrasting different points of view.
