At The Marist our primary intent in teaching Religious Education is to learn, love and achieve together. We want our children to develop knowledge, understanding, reflection skills, analysis and religious experiences. In our Catholic community, we intend for our children to gain a wide range of experiences to build their sense of belonging alongside their individual faith.  

We aims to enable the children to be active participants in RE through our curriculum as well as our whole school worships, Masses and celebrations. These all allow our children to feel they are an important part of our school community. 

In line with the stipulation of the Bishop's Conference of England and Wales, the school spends 10% of the teaching week on Religious Education. 

To access the Religious Education Directory, please click here

We have put together a PowerPoint presentation for parents which explores the curriculum intent for Religious Education at The Marist, as well as, explores the new RED in more depth. 

Religious Education in Reception, Year 1, 2, 5 and 6 

In line with our fellow Diocesan schools, we follow the Diocesan lesson plans based on the new RED in Reception, Year 1, 2, 5 and 6. This curriculum is being rolled out across the Primary and Secondary sector. It seeks to present the teaching of religious education in a sequential and progressive form. The framework has four structural elements:

• Knowledge lenses which indicate what should be known by the end of each age phase. These are split into hear, believe, live and celebrate.
• The ‘ways of knowing’ are the skills which develop as the children progress through their curriculum journey. These are split into understand, discern and respond.  
• Expected outcomes are set for each age phase and indicate what pupils are expected to know, remember and be able to do.
• Curriculum branches are the way the programme of study presents its model curriculum. There are six half term branches for each half term which are the same in each year group

Curriculum branches for Reception, Year 1, Year 2. Year 5 and Year 6:

• Autumn 1- Creation and Covenant- Encounter the God who creates and calls all people with a focus on the accounts of Creation.
• Autumn 2- Prophecy and Promise- Explore the expectant waiting for the Messiah through the Advent season.
• Spring 1- Galilee to Jerusalem- Experience the ministry of Jesus, the Word of God. They will learn through parables, encounters, miracles and teachings.
• Spring 2- Desert to Garden- Study the season of Lent and its culmination in the events of Holy Week.
• Summer 1- To the ends of the Earth- Study the events that flowed from the Resurrection and Ascension in the coming of the Holy Spirit and the work of the apostles and early Church.
• Summer 2- Dialogue and Encounter- Learn how Christians work together with people of different religious backgrounds, building an understand that all people work towards a common good and should respect all humanity.

In terms of assessment, the RE curriculum requires schools to assess children against the end of phase statements. Children are assessed as meeting or not meeting the expected outcomes. The language of ‘working at greater depth’ in not used in the assessment of the RE curriculum. 

  

Religious Education in Year 3 and 4 

In line with our fellow Diocesan schools, we are using a scheme called ‘Come and See’ in Year 3 and 4. This forms the basis of our Religious Education provision. It is based on the theological foundations of the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Catechism and the revised RE Curriculum Directory. ‘Come and See’ is an invitation to all to explore the promise of life. This scheme provides a schoolwide overarching theme, which each group approaches at an age appropriate level.  

During the Autumn term the children will focus on three key themes: 

• Domestic Church (Family) 
• Baptism and Confirmation (Belonging) 
• Advent and Christmas (Loving). 
• The children will also spend one week studying Judaism.  

As we move into the Spring term we will be studying:  

• Local Church (Community) 
• Eucharist (Relating)  
• Lent/Easter (Giving).  

Within the Summer term each unit reflects upon the role the Holy Spirit plays in our lives. We will be studying the three themes: 

• Pentecost (Serving) 
• Reconciliation (Inter-relating) 
• Universal Church (World).  
• The children will also spend one week studying Islam. 

   

The Catholic Education Service has produced guidance on the parental right to withdraw a child from RE and Collective Worship. This can be found here.