"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." John 3:16-17
Religious Education
Religious Education (RE) – Intent Statement
At Our Lady of lourdes, Religious Education is at the heart of our curriculum and school life. As a Catholic school, we seek to nurture every child in their journey of faith, helping them to grow in knowledge, understanding and relationship with God, while recognising the dignity and uniqueness of every person.
Through the Religious Education Directory (RED) and its Ways of Knowing, we enable pupils to engage deeply with Scripture, Tradition and the lived experience of the Church. Our curriculum encourages children to develop religious literacy, explore their own beliefs and values, and appreciate the beliefs and traditions of others.
We teach RE through the three Ways of Knowing:
Understand
Pupils develop knowledge and understanding of Catholic beliefs, teachings, Scripture, prayer, worship and the Church's traditions. They build a secure foundation of religious knowledge and make connections between key concepts within Christianity and other world religions.
Discern
Pupils are encouraged to think critically, ask questions and reflect on meaning and purpose. They explore how faith influences decisions and actions, consider different viewpoints, and develop the ability to make links between belief and everyday life.
Respond
Pupils reflect on their learning and consider how it influences their own lives and relationships. They are encouraged to respond through prayer, discussion, action and service, growing as compassionate individuals who live out Gospel values within their school and wider community.
Through our RE curriculum, we aim for pupils to:
- Develop a deep and secure understanding of the Catholic faith.
- Become religiously literate and able to engage thoughtfully with theological ideas.
- Understand the relationship between faith, belief and daily life.
- Appreciate and respect different faiths, cultures and worldviews.
- Reflect on questions of meaning, purpose and morality.
- Grow spiritually, morally, socially and culturally.
- Live out the values of love, dignity, justice, compassion and service.
- Recognise their role as active members of both the Church and wider society.
Our RE curriculum enables pupils to encounter Christ, deepen their understanding of the Catholic tradition and develop the knowledge, wisdom and virtues needed to flourish as faithful, compassionate and responsible citizens in the modern world.
RE Implementation Statement
At our Catholic school, Religious Education is at the heart of the curriculum and school life. Through The Way, the Truth and the Life programme, pupils are invited to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith while developing the skills, values and attitudes needed to flourish as active citizens in modern Britain.
Our RE curriculum is planned progressively to enable pupils to explore Scripture, Catholic teachings, prayer, worship and the liturgical year. Learning is enriched through opportunities for reflection, discussion, questioning and spiritual development, enabling children to make connections between faith and daily life.
We recognise that pupils learn through different ways of knowing. Therefore, lessons provide opportunities for children to:
- Know through Scripture and Tradition by engaging with biblical texts and Church teachings.
- Know through reason and enquiry by asking questions, investigating beliefs and reflecting critically on religious and moral issues.
- Know through experience and relationship by exploring their own experiences, learning from others and participating in prayer, worship and acts of service.
- Know through wisdom and reflection by considering how faith influences decisions, values and responses to the world around them.
Teaching is inclusive, engaging and ambitious for all learners. Pupils are encouraged to develop religious literacy, articulate personal responses respectfully and appreciate the beliefs and traditions of others.
The RE curriculum makes a significant contribution to promoting British Values. Through the study of Catholic Social Teaching and world faiths, pupils learn about:
- Democracy and participation in society.
- The rule of law and moral responsibility.
- Individual liberty and freedom of conscience.
- Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
By fostering dignity, respect, compassion and service, our RE curriculum enables pupils to live out Gospel values and become thoughtful, responsible and caring members of society, inspired by Christ, who is The Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).
RE Impact Statement
The impact of our Religious Education curriculum is evident in the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and values that pupils develop throughout their time at our Catholic school.
Through The Way, the Truth and the Life programme, pupils acquire a secure and progressive understanding of the Catholic faith, Scripture, Church teachings and traditions. They are able to make meaningful links between their learning and their daily lives, demonstrating an understanding of how faith influences beliefs, choices and actions.
Pupils confidently use religious vocabulary, ask thoughtful questions and reflect deeply on spiritual, moral and ethical issues. They are able to articulate their own beliefs and values while showing respect and sensitivity towards the beliefs, cultures and traditions of others. Their growing religious literacy enables them to engage in discussion with maturity and empathy.
As a result of experiencing different ways of knowing through scripture, reason, reflection, experience and prayer, pupils become curious and reflective learners who think critically, make informed judgements and seek truth with confidence. They demonstrate resilience in enquiry, openness to different perspectives and an appreciation of the richness of faith and human experience.
The RE curriculum contributes significantly to pupils' personal development. Children understand the importance of Gospel values and Catholic Social Teaching and increasingly demonstrate these through their relationships and actions. They show compassion, respect, forgiveness, responsibility and a commitment to serving others within the school, parish and wider community.
Pupils leave our school with a strong sense of their own dignity and worth as children of God, together with an understanding of their responsibilities as citizens in modern Britain. They actively promote the British Values of democracy, individual liberty, mutual respect, tolerance and the rule of law, recognising the importance of contributing positively to an inclusive and diverse society.
Ultimately, the impact of our RE curriculum is seen in pupils who are spiritually aware, morally responsible, religiously literate and equipped to live out Christ's message in their everyday lives, inspired by Jesus, who is The Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).