Good Shepherd Primary School

Religious Education

Religious Education

Religious Education is taught throughout the school using the 'Come and See' programme. “Come and See” is an invitation and a promise of life for everyone. The invitation is open to all. In response to the question ‘Where do you live?’, Jesus invited the disciples to ‘Come and See.’ They went with Jesus ‘and spent the rest of that day with him.’

We recognise that all children are at different stages in their journey of faith; for some children RE is catechesis and part of their formation in the faith. Those who receive the invitation to ‘Come and see’ may also offer it to others. In the same invitation we remember that for some of our children RE will be evangelisation, the first opportunity to hear the Good News.

Religious Education is a core subject of the curriculum for Catholic Schools and as such teaching and learning in RE makes up 10% of curriculum time. As such it is taught rigorously with all the same expectations as other core subjects whilst maintaining a creative element and encouraging children to question and think at a high level.

Each term pupils study three topics, each lasting four weeks and following a common theme across the school. As the children move through the school this theme is developed further, appropriate to the pupils age and stage of learning.

Each year group approaches the theme through a different topic e.g. the Autumn term topic 1 is a 'Domestic Church' theme which is explored through:

Early Years – Myself

Year 1 – Families

Year 2 – Beginnings

Year 3 – Homes

Year 4 – People

Year 5 – Ourselves

Year 6 – Loving

In the Autumn term theme of Belonging (topic 2) Early Years children will be learning about Baptism as being welcomed to God’s family, in their “Welcome” topic, Years 1,2 and 3 further develop their understanding of Baptism, including Signs and Symbols (Yr2) and Promises (Yr3), whilst in their “Community” topic Year 4 move on to learn about Confirmation, Yr5 learn about the commitment of Marriage in their Life Choices topic and Yr6 learn about the vocation to priesthood and religious life in their “Vocation and commitment” topic. Scripture is at the heart of each topic.

The termly themes are as follows:

AUTUMN

The three autumn themes are developed in the light of an understanding of Creation.

 Family - Domestic church;

 Belonging - Baptism/Confirmation/Marriage/Vocation;

 Loving - Advent/Christmas.

SPRING

The three spring themes are developed in the light of an understanding of Incarnation

 Community -Local church;

 Relating -Eucharist;

 Giving -Lent/Easter.

SUMMER

The three summer themes are developed in the light of an understanding of Redemption and the work of the Holy Spirit

 Serving -Pentecost;

 Inter-relating -Reconciliation;

 World -Universal Church.

Each four-weekly topic is broken into 3 aspects:

EXPLORE (1 WEEK)

 Introduces the topic;

 The children’s life experience is explored;

 The questions raised are wondered at, shared, investigated and their significance reflected upon;

REVEAL (2 WEEKS)

 Heart of the programme;

 Knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith revealed through Scripture, Tradition, doctrine, prayers, rites and Christian living;

RESPOND (1 WEEK)

 Learning is remembered, celebrated and responded to in daily life;

 Prayer.

 Prayer and celebration are integral to Come and See;

 Opportunities for reflection are present within Explore, Reveal and Respond;

 Traditional prayers are introduced in the different Key Stages;

 Prayer styles: children are introduced to a range throughout the scheme.

OTHER FAITHS

Judaism is taught in the Autumn Term and Islam in the Summer Term using the Come and See materials.

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Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (registered number 9918358).
Registered office: Dunley Drive, New Addington, Croydon CR0 0RG