Overview of RE

Teaching and Learning

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Planning and Organisation

RE is taught following the new RED framework which is supported by Clifton Diocese. Early Years to Year 5 are currently teaching the new RE Curriculum Directory. RE is taught for 10% of our school timetable and is at the Core of our curriculum. Our Catholic status informs our planning and teaching of all subjects – to make links with CST, to be Stewards and teach in a way that values each child.

Pupils at St Mary’s will enjoy RE lessons and they will not be seen as a way of either promoting the Catholic faith exclusively, nor for them to be something in which they are purely 'taught'. RE lessons will be faith-filled, enjoyable lessons where each child feels they belong to our school community and not excluded because they are not Catholic. Lessons will be places where everyone is respected for their beliefs and expressions of faith, but where ultimately, they all achieve.

Long term planning

The Religious Education Directory (RED) - ‘To know you more Clearly’ branches are followed in all years but Year 6:

Creation and Covenant

Prophecy and Promise

Galilee to Jerusalem

Desert to garden

To the ends of the Earth

Dialogue and encounter

The new RED can be found in full here.

In 2024-2025, Year 6 currently follow the God Matters planning using DCET agreed lessons and extended pieces of writing. From September 2025, all year groups will follow the RED.

Creation

Prayer, Saints and Feasts

Advent

Christmas

Revelation

Lent

Holy Week

Easter

Pentecost

Sacraments

Medium term planning

Units are planned using the Diocese suggested Learning Outcomes and I Can Statements, leading to secure moderation and assessment.

Each lesson is planned in terms of delivery, activity, scaffold and outcome. Teachers adapt their own lessons/PowerPoints from the Clifton resources, so they are suited to the needs and ability of their class from their unique starting points. A variety of outcomes such as art, drama, written pieces and discussion are planned to enable all children to achieve.

Short term planning

Lessons are planned so that children can be educated beyond the RE curriculum, with space for reflection, discussion and asking questions. Scripture is a key part of our learning, using the Good News bible as a text, relating it to the time it was written, its audience and authors and finding meaning today.

Teaching and Learning

Lessons incorporate various teaching strategies from independent tasks to paired and group work, including practical, creative, computer-based and collaborative tasks. This variety means that lessons are engaging and appeal to those with different learning styles. Guidance for adapting the learning is available for every lesson to ensure that all pupils can access learning, and opportunities to stretch pupils’ learning are available when required. Learning Ladders, knowledge organisers and Success Criteria help identify prior and future curriculum links to make the scheme as meaningful as possible and reinforce key vocabulary.

Assessment. Evidence and recording

Each unit is assessed through teacher judgement based on all areas – written pieces, contributions to class discussions, liturgy led by children and observations of tasks. These are assessed against the end of Unit outcomes which result in a Working Towards/Expected or Greater Depth judgement each long term.

Children have their own RE book from Year 3 upwards and they are proud of the work they produce. In EYFS and KS1, class discussion and tasks are recorded through notes and photographs and either places in a class floor book or as a record in the children’s books.