St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

Religious Education

Religious Education at St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School

The Intent, Implementation and Impact of our Curriculum 

Our Religious Education Lead is Mrs Hargreaves

Intent

Here at St Joseph’s Primary School, our aim is to provide a curriculum that is stimulating, broad, balanced, innovative and creative which is ‘With Jesus at the Centre of all We Do and Say’.

As a Catholic school, Jesus Christ is at the heart of everything we teach and learn. Whilst developing children’s basic skills in English and Maths is extremely important, we also realise the importance of teaching a varied and interesting and engaging curriculum. The spirituality of our children has been recognised and we are proud to continue strengthening this area as they learn from one another by setting an example and following our chosen Class virtues and Class Saints. We learn through the guidance and presence of Jesus.

The children progress in the implementation of our Collective Worship. They plan and lead and develop reflective skills which establish them as well rounded individuals once leaving St Joseph’s.

We have close links with our Parish Priest Father Firth and are constantly strengthening our links with our local community.

Implementation

In Religion we follow, ‘The Way the Truth and The Life’ scheme and also ‘Come and See’. We follow the requirements of the Religious Education Curriculum Directory set out by the Bishops of England and Wales. Within the scheme, there are opportunities for the children to plan and deliver a form of class worship.

There are three main questions, which the curriculum encourages the children to reflect on; where do I come from? Who am I? Why am I here? Religious Education permeates the whole life of the school and is visible in every subject and everything we do here at St Joseph’s. The whole school will always be exploring the same theme but on different levels and topics depending on age and ability.  Progression is evident.  The children will be initially assessed on their prior knowledge before beginning each topic. Then they will come to the heart of the process where they will reveal the Christian understanding and mystery of God as expressed in person and within the Gospel Values.  The children will then respond to their new knowledge by coming together and celebrating as a class, individual or as a whole school.  The children will also learn about other faiths throughout their school life by learning about and visiting buildings of other faiths.

We also have a thriving Mini Vinnie team who lead us in liturgies, assemblies and develop the spiritual life of our school.

As a Catholic School, Religious Education is provided within the timetable according to the syllabus authorised by Leeds Diocese, “The Way, the Truth and the Life”. St. Joseph’s is a Catholic school and as such a Catholic ethos pervades all that takes place within our school community. It is a parent’s legal right to withdraw pupils from RE lessons or collective worship but by so doing would negate the reason for choosing a Catholic school. Parents who wish to exercise this right should see the Headteacher, who will make arrangements accordingly. On certain occasions during the year Mass is celebrated in school whilst on other occasions as a school we visit St. Joseph’s Church. Other religious services and special assemblies are considered an integral part of school life and important in the spiritual development of the child.

Impact

We assess impact throughout our termly tracker. Our children are involved in serving, reading and the offertory in Mass. The children progress through school in our Collective Worship where they develop to become able to plan, lead and reflect on their own class Collective Worships. Our children, staff and community place Jesus at the centre of all we do and say. We have a wonderful school who all work together in the family of God.

Please click here to link to Leeds Diocese Education

Exploring Other Faiths

As part of our Religious Education the children have the opportunity to find out about other faiths. As part of this they visit other places of worship and we have visitors of other faiths in school to present assemblies. 

Sikh Temple Visit

The children in Years 2 and 3 visited a Sikh Temple, where they learned about the Sikh faith.

Mosque visit

Children in Reception and Year 1 visited a Mosque in Nelson to find out more about the Islamic faith.