The RE Curriculum

Come and See RE Curriculum Map 

Here at St Mary’s we follow the national Roman Catholic Primary Religious Education Programme ‘Come & See.’  This programme is delivered throughout school from Nursery through to Year 6.  However, this year in Y1,Y2,Y3 and Y4 we are currently trialling the new programme   ‘Be Still and Know’ which is based on the new RED Curriculum. This easy to use, teacher-friendly material has been written by a group of experienced diocesan advisors. It is based on the theological foundations of the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Catechism and the revised RE Curriculum Directory and includes the Catholic attainment levels.

We recognise that all children are at different stages in their journey of faith; for some of children RE is catechesis and part of their formation in the faith. Those who receive the invitation to ‘Come and See’ may also offer it to others. In the same invitation we remember that for lots of our children RE will be evangelisation, the first opportunity to hear the good news.

The programme explores the religious dimensions of questions about life, dignity and purpose within the Catholic tradition. Links are made with the children’s own experience and with the universal ‘human experience.’ It raises questions and provides material for reflection by the children on their own experiences and enables them to explore the beliefs, values and way of life of the Catholic tradition and where appropriate other faith traditions.

Religious Education is a core subject of our curriculum, teaching and learning in RE makes up 10% of curriculum time. It is taught rigorously with the same expectations as other core subjects whilst maintaining a creative element and encouraging children to question and reflect.

The process for delivering the topics in ‘Come and See’ has three stages – Explore, Reveal and Respond which enable the pupils with the development of knowledge, understanding, skills and the fostering of attitudes. 10% of teaching time is dedicated to the teaching of RE.

The Process:
Explore (1 week)

This is the introduction to the topic where the children’s life experience is explored, the questions it raises are wondered at, shared, investigated and their significance reflected on.

Reveal (usually 2 weeks)

This is the heart of the programme where knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith is revealed through the Word, in Scripture, Tradition, doctrine, prayers, rites and Christian living.

 

Respond (1 week)

This is where the learning is assimilated, celebrated and responded to in daily life.