Religious Education
At St. Peter's Catholic Primary School, Religious Education (RE) is at the absolute heart of our curriculum and daily life. It is not just a subject we teach; it is a lens through which we help our pupils understand the world, develop deep moral foundations, and foster respect for all.
Our Curriculum: The Religious Education Directory (RED)
We are proud to follow the Religious Education Directory (RED), ‘To Know, Love and Follow Jesus’. This modern, robust curriculum ensures our pupils receive a rich, deep, and academically rigorous education in the Catholic faith, while also opening doors to understanding other major world religions.
The RED builds a spiral curriculum, meaning our pupils revisit core theological concepts year after year, deepening their understanding as they grow.
What We Study: The Six Branches
The RED curriculum is beautifully structured around six core branches, which the children explore throughout the liturgical year:
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Creation and Covenant: Exploring the beauty of the world, our place within it, and God's relationship with humanity.
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Prophecy and Promise: Looking at the expectation of the Messiah and how God prepares His people.
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Galilee to Jerusalem: Discovering the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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From Desert to Garden: Focusing on the seasons of Lent and Easter, exploring conversion, forgiveness, and new life.
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To the Ends of the Earth: Learning about the Acts of the Apostles, the birth of the Church, and the work of the Holy Spirit.
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Dialogue and Encounter: Looking outward to understand our faith in the modern world, including dedicated units on other world faiths and cultures.
Key Skills Developed in RE
Through the RED framework, we encourage our pupils to be critical thinkers, empathetic listeners, and reflective individuals. We focus on three core disciplines:
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Discernment: Asking big questions about faith, meaning, and purpose.
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Knowledge: Understanding scripture, tradition, and the teachings of the Church.
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Engagement: Putting faith into action through charity, community work, and daily prayer.
Our Vision: By the time pupils leave St. Peter's, our RE curriculum aims to have equipped them with the religious literacy and emotional intelligence needed to navigate, respect, and contribute positively to our diverse global society.
RE Newsletters
We love sharing our learning journey with you! Below, you can find the link to our half-termly RE newsletter, which provides an overview of the topics, themes, and big questions the children will be exploring this half term.