Religious Education at Holy Family Catholic Primary School

Intent

We are a Catholic school and we are committed to the Catholic Faith, recognising and valuing every individual as special and unique in the image and likeness of God.

Religious Education at Holy Family respects and promotes each child’s innate capacity for wonder, awe, reverence and spirituality. Our Religious Education curriculum leads our children to aspire not to have more, but to be more; children are taught about God’s love; they learn about their Christian responsibilities; children are provided with experiences of church, Catholic and Christian traditions, as well as being taught to be respectful and understanding of people and traditions from other faith backgrounds.

Implementation

At Holy Family we follow the ‘Come and See’ Religious Education Programme in line with guidance from the Southwark Archdiocese. This programme is followed throughout school from EYFS through to Year 6.

This programme provides:

• · opportunities for celebration, prayer and reflection in implicit and explicit ways.
• · children with the language of religious experience - a 'literacy' in religious activities, places, stories, symbols and rituals, people and objects.
• · a 'systematic presentation of Christian event, message and way of life' in ways appropriate to the age and stage of development of the child.
• · that for its implementation and production it requires the adults involved to understand the underlying theological as well as educational principles.
• · appropriate materials about other faiths.
• · academic respectability as in other curricular areas – utilising appropriate stages from the National Curriculum.

The programme explores the religious dimensions of questions about life, dignity and purpose within the Catholic tradition. Links are made with the children's own experience and with universal experience. It will raise questions and provides material for reflection by the children on their own experiences. It will enable them to explore the beliefs, values and way of life of the Catholic tradition and where appropriate other faith traditions.

Impact

Through Religious Education at Holy Family:

• Children learn about their unique place within the home, school and parish community and the world beyond.
• They will understand and appreciate the wonder and significance of the Catholic faith.
• Children deepen their appreciation of their faith and fulfil their God-given talents
• Visits within RE have enriched the lives of the children and they are able to discuss how the experience impacted their knowledge and understanding.
• Children of all abilities and backgrounds achieve well in RE, reflected in strong progress that reveals a clear learning journey.  Children talk enthusiastically about their learning in RE and are eager to further their learning in the next stages of their education.
• Fundamental British Values are evident in RE and children understand how RE can celebrate difference.
• The children grow to know and love God, develop their moral and spiritual nature and deepen their faith.

• Children live their faith in an active and positive way, always aware of the presence and love of Christ guiding them.
• Children develop their relationship with God and become religiously literate.
• Through religious practice, the church’s traditions of prayer and worship are upheld.

• Children understand that faith plays a central role in their lives and the decisions they make.
• Children are confident, resilient and actively engaged in the wider society.
• Children reflect and consider important questions about RE.

We enjoy it when father Desmond comes and visits our classes

Here are some of the amazing things we have been covering this year.

Year 6 led us with a lovely Liturgy to start the school year. 

 Year 5 then led our Harvest Festival. 

Thank you to all the families who sent in contributions for the Food Bank, it was gratefully received.

Year 4 have led our All Saints Day Mass

Which was celebrated by Father Liam from St Francis Parish. Members of the Parish joined us for this Mass.

We have a new display in the school hall which we will be adding to as the Church Year progresses, for example All Saints, Advent and Christmas will be added to the signposts as these events occur.

We look forward to seeing this display change through the year.

Our journey so far!

In Year 1, the children have started their new topic of Belonging.

They are understanding how we belong in our classrooms and how we can make new children feel like they belong.

We have looked at the story of Jesus with the Children and how he is showing that children belong to Jesus and he will not turn anyone away. Everyone belongs to God and is loved by God.