Religious Education

At St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School, Religious Education is at the heart of our curriculum and is central to our mission to be “one family, growing, living and learning together in faith.” We believe that Religious Education is not simply another subject; it is an essential part of the formation of the whole child, helping our pupils to develop their relationship with God, deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith and recognise the presence of Christ in themselves, others and the world around them.

Our Religious Education curriculum follows the Religious Education Directory (RED) for Catholic schools in England and Wales. We use Magister as our scheme of work to support the planning and delivery of a rich, progressive and engaging RE curriculum. Through Magister, children encounter Scripture, Catholic teaching, prayer, worship and the traditions of the Church, building their knowledge and understanding progressively from Reception to Year 6.

Our RE curriculum enables pupils to:

• develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of Scripture and the teachings of Jesus;
• explore the beliefs, teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church;
• encounter the person of Jesus Christ and develop their own relationship with God;
• understand and participate more fully in the prayer and liturgical life of the Church;
• develop their knowledge of Scripture and the story of salvation;
• reflect on how Catholic beliefs influence the way we live and treat others;
• consider questions about meaning, purpose, faith and the world around us;
• develop respect and understanding of other Christian traditions and world religions;
• grow in confidence when expressing and reflecting upon their own beliefs and ideas.

We recognise that Religious Education and the spiritual life of our school are closely connected. Alongside dedicated RE lessons, children experience daily prayer, assemblies, liturgy and opportunities for reflection. We celebrate the Church’s liturgical year through prayer and worship, including important feasts and seasons such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Pentecost. Our pupils also have opportunities to participate in Mass and other forms of worship, both within school and as part of our parish community.

We place great importance on Scripture, giving children regular opportunities to listen to, explore and respond to the Word of God. Through the RED and Magister, pupils are encouraged not only to learn about their faith but to consider how God’s Word speaks to their own lives and how it calls them to live as followers of Christ.

Our Religious Education curriculum also contributes to the development of the whole person. Children are encouraged to ask thoughtful questions, reflect deeply, listen respectfully to the views of others and develop a strong sense of dignity, compassion, justice and service. In this way, RE supports our children in becoming confident young people who are able to live out the Gospel values in their daily lives.

At St Gregory’s, we want every child to leave our school with a deepening knowledge of the Catholic faith, a love of Scripture, an appreciation of prayer and worship, and a growing awareness of God’s love for them. Above all, we hope that our children will recognise that they are valued members of God’s family and feel inspired to live out our school mission each day.