Religious Education
Religious Education is at the heart of our school. We follow the “Day by Day” religious education programme which aims to strengthen our Catholic faith. The programme empowers teachers and pupils alike to explore and understand how scripture enables pupils to know God more clearly. Creative lessons are planned and taught to support the branches and learning objectives of the RED.
All primary schools should be fully implementing the new Religious Education Directory by September 2026, as directed by the Bishops’ Conference. The timeline to which we are working fully complies with this.
The primary purpose of Catholic Education is the step by step study of the mystery of Christ, the teaching of the Church and its application in daily life, therefore the principle aims of the school in terms of the Religious Education which it provides are:
- to lead the children to a deepening knowledge and understanding of our Catholic Faith.
- to provide opportunities for the children to develop a loving relationship with God and their neighbours.
- to encourage children to respect and be fully aware of the needs of others as equal members of God’s creation.
The RE Curriculum Structure
The Religious Education Directory consists of six branches or components, across each year group to allow children to discover, develop and deepen their understanding as they move through the school. The Day by Day programme follows the structure of the model RE curriculum. Each branch has a core theme and invites pupils to learn about an aspect of Revelation, Scripture, life in Christ and life in the Church ,and to discern what their learning means academically and experientially enabling them to see, judge, and act through a deeper knowledge of the Christian faith.
Branch One: Creation and covenant
In this branch, pupils will encounter the God who creates and calls a people. They will explore revelation of the Christian belief that all that is comes from God, the Creation accounts in Genesis, and scientific explanations of the process of Creation. They will explore the call of God and his covenantal relationship with his people first through Abraham and Moses, then through the narrative of the Old Testament.
Branch Two: Prophecy and promise
In this branch pupils will explore Christian understanding of the teachings of the prophets as they point to the fulfilment of God’s promise in a Messiah, Jesus Christ. They will explore the expectant waiting for the Messiah through the Advent season and how this speaks to Christians today as they wait for Christ. Pupils will encounter the story of the nativity of Jesus and the mystery of the incarnation.
Branch Three: Galilee to Jerusalem
In this branch pupils will learn about the life of Jesus and his revelation of the Kingdom of God through parables, encounters, miracles, and teachings. They will learn about the call of the disciples and the nature of being a follower of Jesus.
Branch Four: Desert to garden
In this branch, pupils will study the season of Lent and its culmination in the events of Holy Week. They will learn about the Paschal Triduum at the heart of the Catholic Church’s Liturgy and life. The title of this branch points both to the liturgical journey from the desert of Lent to the garden of Resurrection, but also to the Paschal journey from darkness to light, barrenness to fruitfulness, death to life.
Branch Five: To the ends of the Earth
In this branch, pupils will study the events that flowed from the Resurrection and Ascension in the coming of the Holy Spirit and the work of the apostles and early Church. They will also learn about the Catholic Church today as the apostolic Church and how its liturgy and structures flow from the early Church.
Branch Six: Dialogue and encounter
In this branch, pupils will learn how Christians work together with people of different religious convictions and all people of goodwill towards the common good, respecting the dignity of all humanity. They will also encounter other pathways of belief drawing on the teaching of the Church about intercultural dialogue.
There are many opportunities for all children to explore their faith and deepen their relationship with Christ including daily collective worship, twice-weekly assemblies, regular liturgies and celebration of Mass.
Our 2019 Diocesan Inspection Report rated us as ‘Outstanding’, stating:
The school mission statement, ‘Learning in the Light of Christ’ is actively lived by all members of the school community. Pupils have a very strong understanding of the call to human flourishing and are proud of the work they do to serve others. Respect for each other and the world around them is embedded across the school.
At Pope Paul, Religious Education permeates throughout our whole curriculum; it is not exclusive to timetabled RE lessons. The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of each child is addressed through all aspects of the curriculum as well as through the various day-to-day situations and opportunities that arise.
RED (Religious Education Directory) Curriculum Plans
Please see below the outline of plans for each year group.
Here’s a summary of how RED is implemented across each year group:
Reception
Children are introduced to key stories from the Bible, begin to explore the concept of God’s love, and learn about simple prayers and the Church community. Learning is hands-on, reflective, and rooted in everyday experiences.
Year 1
Pupils build on their early understanding by learning more about Jesus’ life and teachings, key celebrations in the Church’s year, and what it means to belong to a faith community.
Year 2
Children deepen their understanding of scripture and begin to explore the sacraments in more detail, especially Reconciliation and Eucharist, often supported through sacramental preparation.
Year 3
Focus is placed on exploring the structure of the Bible, key Old and New Testament stories, and understanding the importance of prayer and liturgy in daily life.
Year 4
Pupils study the life and mission of Jesus, delve into the early Church, and reflect on what it means to live as disciples today. They also explore the significance of key sacraments such as Confirmation and Eucharist.
Year 5
This year encourages a deeper engagement with Catholic Social Teaching, exploring themes such as justice, stewardship, and the dignity of the human person, alongside key biblical teachings and Church traditions.
Year 6
As pupils prepare for transition to secondary school, they reflect on their faith journey, explore the role of the Church in the modern world, and examine vocations, mission, and responsibility as young Christians in today’s society.
Annual Faith-Centred Themes
At Pope Paul School, we are proud to cultivate a rich Catholic life that permeates every aspect of our educational journey. Each academic year, we embark on a journey guided by a central theme rooted in our faith, which permeates all aspects of our curriculum and school life. This theme serves as a unifying thread, weaving its way into the fabric of our daily activities and interactions. Past themes, such as ‘Year of Growth,’ ‘Year of Pilgrimage,’ and ‘Year of Diversity,’ reflect our dedication to spiritual development, community engagement, and inclusivity. Through these annual themes, we aim to create an environment where students not only excel academically but also grow in character and compassion, reflecting the values that lie at the heart of our Catholic identity.
Other Faiths
As part of our Religious Education programme, the children are taught about other faiths, in particular Judaism and Islam.
The teaching about other religions is important because:
- Learning about other religions and cultures is one of the ways in which we fulfil our call to love our neighbour. As the Church says, “The love for all men and women is necessarily also a love for their culture. Catholic schools are, by their very vocation, intercultural.” (Congregation for Catholic Education p61).
- The Church states that schools “try to understand better the religion of one’s neighbours, and to experience something of their religious life and culture.” (Catholic Bishops’ Conference p3).
- The Church suggests that schools “find ways in which pupils can learn to engage in dialogue and to develop an attitude of respect for religious diversity. This will necessitate the inclusion of a broader study of both Christianity and of other world faiths in the Religious Education syllabus.” (Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales, 1997)
- It prepares our children for life in modern Britain, giving them an understanding of the beliefs of others.
Fairtrade Group
Pope Paul has been a Fairtrade School since 2011. We were one of the first schools in England to achieve this. Our children are actively involved in promoting the Fairtrade message in the school and the wider community.
“The school’s commitment to Fairtrade allows excellent opportunities for pupils to engage with Catholic social teaching and the Common Good which is well understood by pupils.”
Diocesan Inspection Report May 2015
Liturgy Group
The children across the school have many opportunities to plan, lead and take part in an exciting range of prayer and worship activities. This group is an essential element of developing the pupils’ understanding of service in the community.
“Pupils are confident in planning and leading prayer and worship. The Year 6 Liturgy Group take a leading role in delivering acts of worship to younger pupils.”
Diocesan Inspection Report May 2019
Laudato Si’ Group
At Pope Paul School, we are proud to uphold the teachings of Laudato Si, Pope Francis’s encyclical that calls for a renewed dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. Rooted in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, our Laudato Si Group is a dedicated community of Year 6 pupils who actively seek ways to care for our common home.
Our Laudato Si Group translates ideals into action through initiatives like our Swap Shop, encouraging students to exchange old clothes and uniforms. The introduction of a clothing recycling bin reinforces our commitment to responsible disposal. To conserve energy, our group advocates for lights-off practices. Engaging in litter-picking fosters a clean environment, and educating on proper recycling ensures our school minimizes waste. These concrete steps reflect our dedication to embodying the principles of Laudato Si and St. Francis, creating a sustainable and environmentally conscious community at Pope Paul School.
