In our Catholic schools ‘RE is regarded as the heart of the curriculum, enriching and informing all areas of learning with the light of the Gospel, teaching students to seek the truth which is of God, in the whole of creation, in themselves and in others.’

– Religious Education – Curriculum Directory for Catholic Schools”,1996 CES, p8

Religious Education at St Louis Catholic Academy is the cornerstone upon which our school thinking and aims are founded, and we endeavour to reflect our Gospel Values in all our actions and attitudes in our teaching and in our relationships with one another.

At the core of our Religious Education Curriculum are the beliefs and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, and we aim to lay a foundation of understanding and belief that will remain with our children throughout their lives. We use the Diocesan Syllabus which combines units from the RE Schemes “Come and See” and ‘The Way, The Truth and The Life’, Religious programmes which are the nationally recommended schemes for use in Catholic schools. This includes the teaching of other World Faiths which helps our children to develop an understanding of and a respect for the beliefs of others in our multi-faith society. This will change with the publication and implementation of the new Religious Education Directory. Our teaching has a cross-curricular emphasis, celebrating our learning in RE through Humanities, PHSCE, Art, Drama, Dance and Music

Planning for each term is published in our school newsletter.

Prayer is an important part of our school life. In addition to our daily prayers at the beginning, lunchtime and end of the day, children have the opportunity to initiate, compose and share their own prayers, responding to current affairs, national and international celebrations and disasters. Through regular silent prayer, children experience a close and personal relationship with God. Our school chaplains in Year 6 develop and lead prayer and liturgy, supporting the work of younger prayer leaders. Across our school buildings and wider site, we acknowledge our Catholic faith with displays and art, including our pupil woven willow cross, our story of creation pebble path, class saints displays and a prayer wall. 

We nurture independence in prayer and leading worship with Year 6 children leading liturgy with younger learners. Tenten resources provide us with some Catholic resources to guide adults and children in leading prayer. Working closely with our parish church of Lady Immaculate and Saint Etheldreda in Newmarket and more widely with the Catholic Diocese of East Anglia and its schools. 

We take part in a varied range of liturgical celebrations throughout the year as a whole school community and welcome families and the wider community to join us. Children help to prepare Masses and whole school assemblies where we gather to pray together.

Children in Year 3 who are Baptised Catholics are prepared by the parish for the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. 

The Catholic Life of the School

Father Leo, our Parish Priest is an important member of our school Community. He celebrates our Liturgies throughout the year, is a school governor, supports our families and staff and together with Deacon James Hurst and Deacon John Morrill, develops the essential connection of parish and school.

At St Louis, as part of our Catholic RE curriculum, we learn about our belief systems. Our learning includes visits to centres of faith belief including mosques, churches and temples, and we invite guest speakers from other faiths into school.

Intent

Through the teaching of Religious Education, we intend to make a distinctive contribution to the school curriculum by developing pupils' knowledge and understanding of religion, religious beliefs, practices, language and traditions and their influence on individuals, communities, societies and cultures. We aim to promote knowledge and understanding of Catholic faith and life. Religious Education aims to enable pupils to consider and respond to a range of important questions related to their own spiritual development, the development of values and attitudes and fundamental questions concerning the meaning and purpose of life. Religious Education is an essential component of a broad and balanced education.

Religious Education is concerned with the deep meaning that individuals and groups make of their experiences and how this helps them give purpose to their lives. It aims to engender in the children a curiosity in the ultimate questions about human life, its origin and purpose and to develop the skills required to engage in the examination of and reflection upon religious belief and practice.

Implementation

In line with Bishops’ Conference recommendations, 10% of curriculum time is allocated to Religious Education. R.E. is taught as explicit lessons but is also embedded in other areas of the curriculum and day-to-day life of the school.

To fulfil this, ‘The Way, the Truth and the Life’ and ‘Come and See’ programmes of work are used in conjunction with the Diocesan ‘I Can Statements’ throughout the school.

• EYFS - R.E. is taught in topics and in blocks supported by the Diocesan ‘I Can Statements’.
• KS1 - R.E. is taught in topics as per the ‘Diocesan of East Anglia R.E. Curriculum Plan for Primary Schools’ supported by the ‘Diocesan I Can Statements’. Learning is done in termly topics. R.E. is taught for 2 hours and 15 minutes each week.
• KS2 - R.E. is taught in topics as per the ‘Diocesan of East Anglia R.E. Curriculum Plan for Primary Schools’ supported by the ‘Diocesan I Can Statements’. Learning is done in termly topics. R.E. is taught for 2 hours and 30 minutes each week.

Talk for learning is a crucial component in R.E. lessons. Higher level questions are used by teachers to develop children’s thinking and understanding. Teachers undertake a programme of induction upon commencing work at St. Louis to develop their understanding of the Catholic ethos and teaching.

Assessment, Monitoring, Recording and Reporting

• Assessment of standards is carried out according to Diocesan guidelines using the criteria in the Levels of Attainment booklet agreed by the Bishops’ Conference.
• Assessment tasks, classroom conferences and creative output for each module support teachers in making accurate assessments.  These tasks also ensure consistency of levelling across the school. 
• All children are assessed in all six modules over the year.
• Each teacher keeps a portfolio of three pupils’ work (from across the ability range) to allow a more in-depth tracking of progress to be made.  These portfolios are held by class teachers and are available for inspection.
• Monitoring of teaching and learning, a book scrutiny and a planning scrutiny are carried out every year.
• Progress and achievement in Religious Education is reported to parents/carers in a written report at the end of each academic year.
• Teachers work hard to ensure there is a good balance between creativity and written outcomes in the teaching and learning of RE across the school.

Impact

Religious Education at St Louis develops pupils’…

• Knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith and life;
• Knowledge and understanding of, and their ability to respond to, Christianity, other principal world religions, other religious traditions and world views;
• Understanding and respect for different religions, beliefs, values and traditions (including ethical life stances), through exploring issues within and between faiths;
• Understanding of the influence of faith and belief on individuals, societies, communities and cultures;
• Skills of enquiry and response through the use of religious vocabulary, questioning and empathy;
• Skills of reflection, expression, application, analysis and evaluation of beliefs, values and practices, and the communication of personal responses to these.

Religious Education at St Louis encourages pupils to:

• Consider challenging questions about the meaning and purpose of life; beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human;
• Understand the influence of religion on individuals, families, communities and cultures;
• Learn from different religions, beliefs, values and traditions while exploring questions of meaning and their own beliefs;
• Learn about religious and ethical teaching, enabling them to make reasoned and informed responses to religious, moral and social issues;
• Develop their sense of identity and belonging, preparing them for life as citizens in a plural, global society;
• Develop respect for and sensitivity to others, in particular those whose faiths and beliefs are different from their own.

Religious Education at St Louis enhances pupils:

• Awareness and understanding of religions and beliefs, teachings, practices and forms of expression;
• Ability to reflect on, consider, analyse, interpret and evaluate issues of truth, belief, faith and ethics and to communicate their responses.

Religious Education at St Louis offers:

• Opportunities to develop personal reflection and spirituality.

Communication

We believe that communication is an essential life skill and feel passionately about enabling all pupils to develop effective communication skills. As part of the R.E. curriculum, there are many opportunities for pupils to communicate their learning through written and oral presentations and creative output such as role play.

Whole Child

Our curriculum is designed to meet the needs of all the children in our school and to prepare them for success in life, however and whatever that might mean to them as they grow and develop. The R.E. curriculum is designed to allow all pupils to flourish. Lessons are both academic and creative to allow all to be successful.

The spirituality of a child is important in their sense of self and this is encouraged and developed through the R.E. curriculum too.

R.E. and Community

St Louis is a multicultural school where we celebrate our richness of diversity. That diversity is echoed in the realisation that the Catholic Church is a local, regional and global community. Throughout school, pupils study the formation of the community of the Church and what it means to be part of that community.

In R.E. there is great potential for children to acquire cultural capital in the following ways:

• The study of other world faiths;
• Using works of art as a springboard for learning;
• Visits to other places of worship;
• Attending church services;
• Drama (role play) used as a teaching technique;
• Opportunities to serve the community: Mini Vinnies, child-led fundraising, Chaplaincy Student Team;
• Dramatic performances of religious events, e.g. the Nativity story and Easter Play;
• Spirituality and reflection sessions;
• Charitable giving;
• Linking to other schools in the Trust and in Newmarket to share prayer and charitable giving.
• Partnerships with charitable foundations such as CAFOD and EVC Uganda;
• Collective Worship with a variety of themes.