Religious Education (RE) Curriculum

Welcome to our Religious Education curriculum page. At our school, Religious Education is not just a subject; it is the foundation of our entire school community, guiding how we learn, live, and grow together in faith. 

In accordance with the Bishops' Conference mandate and Salford Diocesan guidelines, our school proudly dedicates 10% of total curriculum teaching time to Religious Education across all key stages.

The Religious Education Directory (RED)

In line with the mandate from the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and the Diocese of Salford, our school has fully embraced the new Religious Education Directory (RED), titled "To Know You More Clearly." This updated curriculum framework is designed to deepen our pupils' religious literacy, helping them to transition from a simple knowledge of faith to a profound understanding and active living-out of the Gospel. By structuring our learning around core theological categories, we provide our children with a cohesive, academically rigorous, and spiritually enriching encounter with the Catholic faith.

Our Curriculum Framework:

Following the guidance of the Salford Diocese Education Department, our classrooms utilise high-quality, RED-aligned resources (such as Lighting the Path and specific diocesan planning) to ensure our curriculum is progressively structured across all key stages.

How We Learn: The Four Knowledge Lenses

The RED curriculum does not just focus on what we know, but how we know it. Learning in every unit is explored through four core Catholic "Knowledge Lenses":

• Hear: Pupils engage deeply with Sacred Scripture, learning to interpret and listen to the Word of God.

• Believe: Pupils explore the core doctrines, creeds, and theological truths of the Catholic Church.

• Celebrate: Pupils look at the liturgy, sacraments, and prayer life of the Church, understanding how faith is expressed ritually.

• Live: Pupils consider the moral implications of faith, examining how Catholic Social Teaching guides us to act in the world.

Additionally, children encounter two further lenses—Dialogue and Encounter—which foster a deep respect, understanding, and exploration of other world religions and world-views (such as Judaism and Islam).

The Six Branches of Learning

Our school year is structurally divided into six thematic "Branches," with each branch lasting approximately half a term. The curriculum loops through these themes annually, building in theological depth and academic challenge as the children progress from EYFS up to Key Stage 2.

Term	Branch	Curriculum Focus
Autumn 1	Branch 1: Creation & Covenant	Exploring the God who creates and calls a people. Children learn about the Genesis accounts, God’s covenant with His people through figures such as Abraham and Moses, and our responsibility to the world.
Autumn 2	Branch 2: Prophecy & Promise	Looking at the Old Testament prophets who pointed towards the fulfilment of God’s promise in a Messiah. This branch anchors our study of Advent, the Nativity, and the mystery of the Incarnation.
Spring 1	Branch 3: Galilee to Jerusalem	Exploring the ministry and life of Jesus Christ. Children learn how Jesus reveals the Kingdom of God through his parables, miracles, and encounters, and reflect on what it means to be a disciple.
Spring 2	Branch 4: Desert to Garden	Centred on the season of Lent and the events of Holy Week. Children map the spiritual journey of the Paschal Mystery: from the sacrifice of Good Friday to the joy of the Easter Resurrection.
Summer 1	Branch 5: To the Ends of the Earth	Focusing on the Resurrection, the Ascension, and Pentecost. Children discover the birth of the early Church through the Apostles, the global mission of Catholicism, and the structure of the Church today.
Summer 2	Branch 6: Dialogue & Encounter	Learning how Christians work collaboratively with people of other faiths and worldviews. This branch emphasises the common good, mutual respect, and the shared dignity of all humanity.

Caritas in Action: Faith into Social Justice

Deeply intertwined with our RED curriculum is the Salford Diocesan initiative, Caritas in Action. Championed by Bishop John Arnold, this framework introduces our pupils to Catholic Social Teaching (CST).

Through dedicated focus days and embedded curriculum links, our children learn how to put their faith into tangible action. We focus on seven core themes:

1. Dignity of the Human Person

2. Family and Community

3. Solidarity and the Common Good

4. Rights and Responsibilities

5. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

6. The Dignity of Work

7. Stewardship of God's Creation (Laudato Si')