Religion

Intent:

As a Catholic school we are deeply committed to developing children’s faith, with Jesus Christ as our inspiration and Our Lady as our role models. Our shared vision is made real as we put our mission into practice and our deep commitment to preparing children for modern life in Britain and the wider world, with a clear and moral purpose. We challenge them to become resilient, confident and independent learners. We develop children’s knowledge and understanding of other faiths and understanding of other faiths and world religions respecting and appreciating alternative viewpoints. We recognise that the social, moral, spiritual and cultural diversity of our city and our local respective communities are a vital resource to be investigated, to encourage curiosity, tolerance and respect and to inspire pupils to understand how life in modern Britain and the wider world is continually changing around them.

Our Religious Education curriculum has been specifically tailored to meet the unique context of our schools. It is designed to be broad and balanced, providing all pupils with the opportunity to master their learning and deepen the knowledge, making sense and giving purpose as to why we learn about Religion, which will help them change and transform our society, putting their faith into action.

We aim to build high levels of competence in the subject specific skills of:

  • Knowledge and understanding
  • Engagement and response
  • Analysis and evaluation

 

Implementation

The Religious Education of our pupils is the core of the core curriculum. 10% RE curriculum time is allocated across all key stages. The staffing and resourcing devoted to RE is of the highest standard, reflecting its significance and importance in our school. The requirements of the Religious Education Curriculum Directory are met at all key stages and standards equal or better those of literacy at all key stages, including foundation stage.

Our pupils are inspired by exceptional teaching and consistently high expectations across the school through the ‘Come and See’ scheme of work. They are challenged throughout the curriculum, to engage with the ‘Big questions’ of the purpose and meaning of life as created and sustained by God. This allows for religious literacy to be developed to a very high level for all our pupils.

Each phase uses age related expectations to assess each child knowledge and understanding on a 3 yearly cycle of topics covered. A curriculum coverage file is kept for each cohort. This enables both class teachers and the subject leader to monitor coverage and identify progress made throughout the lifetime of a cohort in the school.

Our pupils, as part of their curriculum for life, are actively encouraged and supported in being pro-active citizens who participate in building a community and in appropriate decision making processes, at school, local, national and global level. A high priority is given to the appropriate formation of pupils in their understanding of, involvement in, and service to the common good.

RE process of learning:

  • Title Pages with key vocabulary and ‘I cans’ taken from the schools ARE’s in the curriculum coverage files and ‘Come and See’ Scheme of work.
  • What I know grids: used as a prior learning, monitoring and assessment
  • Sequence of work: This includes WALTs and challenge questions to develop greater depth and critical thinking through aspects of SMSC (Big questions).

Assessment for learning is highly developed, challenging and empowering pupils to be creative, independent and reflective learners.

Assessments are carried out in various forms:

  • Big questions
  • Assessment
  • ‘What I know’ grids

Outcomes from these are used to inform the assessment of religion at the end of each term. Children are evaluated as either, Working towards Standard, at the Expected Standard or Greater Depth Standard. These assessments and outcomes are an invaluable tool for the subject leader to measure the impact of the current system. This combined with other forms of monitoring help to inform the subject leaders Position Statement and Action Plan in religion for the following school year.

 

Curriculum Impact

As a result of these strategies, most children:

  • are well prepared for the next stage of their education as confident and enthusiastic learners who are witness to Christ in their words and
  • are happy, well-rounded individuals who can articulate how their Catholic education has impacted on their beliefs and
  • produce good quality work across religion, which they are proud
  • achieve consistently well in all areas of Religious
  • develop detailed knowledge and skills across a range of curriculum
  • show compassion, justice, love and forgiveness in their relationships with others

Get in touch

Our Lady's RC Primary School

Whalley Road, Whalley Range, Manchester, M16 8AW

Head of School Anna Ward and Executive Head Catherine Gordon

0161 226 2767admin@ourladys-pri.manchester.sch.uk

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