“The goal of religion is not to create walls but to build bridges.”
–Pope Francis
Religious Education is at the centre of all we do at English Martyrs. It can be seen throughout our school, not just in our RE lessons, but through Collective Worship, our links with our local parish and our behaviour towards one another. Religious Education guides every area of our school life and shapes the values, attitudes, and actions of our whole community.
Following the National curriculum and Nottingham Diocesan Guidance for RE our intent is that all our children will:
Head
- Have knowledge of the Bible and its teachings in the Catholic Church
- Have the ability to read and engage with Scripture.
- Have knowledge of the Catholic Faith which is central to the life of a Catholic School.
- Have opportunities to deepen their understanding of key theological ideas.
- Have opportunities to develop their skills in investigation and reflection.
- To engage with their own and others beliefs and values to develop dispositions and attitudes so that they are instilled with a love of learning and a desire to go on learning in a modern multicultural, global world.
Heart
- Engage with the deepest questions in life and find reasons for the hope that is within them.
- Develop attitudes that allow for a free informed response to God’s calling in everyday life.
- Explore Christian values through the school virtues- love, kindness, courage, respect, confidence, resilience, and faith, love of learning, respect and forgiveness in living their faith.
- Explore the Bishop’s themes of Encounter, Discipleship and Missionary discipleship through living their faith.
- Foster curiosity and creativity about what they are learning and about the world around them to ask questions.
- Foster a love of learning new knowledge and skills, a love of building on existing knowledge and skills and a sense of pride in their achievements in RE.
- Develop a sense of respect for their own faith and that of others.
Hand
- Understand and appreciate the link between faith and life.
- Have a sense of self-worth through their own faith experience and as part of a wider faith community.
- Be aware of the demands and commitments of Faith in everyday life.
- Use their values, morals and virtues to lead a faithful life.
- Be respectful and aware of the many different faiths within British society always showing respect, tolerance having the ability to engage and work together to create a peaceful world.
The aim of Religious Education at English Martyrs is to help pupils grow and nurture a deep knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith, of God’s revelation through Scripture, Tradition, and the life of the Church.
We aim to deepen children’s personal relationship with God through prayer, reflection, and participation in liturgy and the Sacraments.
We aim to support spiritual and moral growth, enabling pupils to make thoughtful choices inspired by the teachings of Jesus, living out the Gospel values of love, respect, and service in their daily lives.
We encourage pupils to live their faith in action, promoting justice, compassion, and stewardship of God’s creation. Children are guided to understand their emotions and to respond to others with kindness and forgiveness, following the example that God and Jesus set for us.
At English Martyrs, Religious Education aims to form children who are faith-filled, reflective, and resilient learners, equipped to succeed in education and adult life, and ready to make a positive contribution to society for the common good.
Learn more about the Religious Education Directory (RED): CLICK HERE
Learn more about how we implement RED at English Martyrs: CLICK HERE
Learning about other faiths: CLICK HERE
The impact of our RE curriculum is that each child learns more knows more and remembers more so that they reach their full potential in this curriculum area.
- Most children will achieve age related expectations in RE at the end of their cohort year.
- Children will retain knowledge that is pertinent to RE with a real life context.
- Children will be able to question ideas and reflect on knowledge.
- Children will work collaboratively and practically to investigate and explore ideas.
- Children will be able to explain how they have reached their level of understanding through links, examples in Scripture and lived faith in everyday life.
