RE
Intent
At St Martin’s Catholic Primary School, Religious Education lies at the heart of our curriculum and school community. Through the Diocese of Birmingham’s Discerning Disciples programme, we seek to nurture children who know and love God, understand the teachings of Jesus Christ and are inspired to live out their faith in their daily lives.
Rooted in the mission of our school, “Learning to live by faith and be known by love,” our RE curriculum enables pupils to develop religious literacy, deepen their understanding of Scripture and recognise their role as disciples in today’s world.
Through the teaching of Religious Education, we aim to:
- Develop children’s knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith and traditions.
- Foster a personal relationship with God through prayer, worship and reflection.
- Enable pupils to become religiously literate and articulate in expressing their beliefs and understanding.
- Encourage children to think deeply, ask questions and engage with theological concepts.
- Promote the values of compassion, justice, dignity and service, rooted in Catholic Social Teaching.
- Inspire pupils to live as active disciples, making a positive contribution to their communities.
- Ensure all children, regardless of background or ability, can access and flourish within the RE curriculum.
We believe that every child is created in the image and likeness of God and has a unique role to play in God’s world. Through Religious Education, we seek to develop confident, compassionate and reflective young people who are prepared to live out the Gospel values in the modern world.
Implementation
St Martin’s follows the Discerning Disciples programme developed by the Archdiocese of Birmingham. This curriculum is structured around a clear progression of knowledge, skills and understanding from Reception to Year 6 and is rooted in Scripture, Catholic teaching and the lived experience of the Church.
The curriculum is organised through six branches:
- Creation and Covenant
- Prophecy and Promise
- Galilee to Jerusalem
- Desert to Garden
- To the Ends of the Earth
- Dialogue and Encounter
Learning is enriched through the use of high-quality texts, artwork, music, prayer and opportunities for discussion and reflection. Lessons encourage children to explore theological concepts, make connections and respond thoughtfully to questions of meaning and purpose.
At St Martin’s:
- Religious Education is taught weekly and given the status of a core subject.
- Teachers use the Diocese’s planning and resources to ensure consistency and progression.
- Children are encouraged to engage in discussion, debate and theological reflection.
- Prayer and liturgy are woven throughout the school day and linked closely to classroom learning.
- Catholic Social Teaching principles are explicitly taught and explored.
- Opportunities are provided for children to participate in Mass, class liturgies, retreats and acts of service.
- Adaptive teaching strategies ensure all pupils can access the curriculum and achieve success.
Assessment is ongoing and is used to inform planning, identify misconceptions and celebrate pupils’ progress in Religious Education.
Impact
The impact of the Discerning Disciples programme is evident in the way our pupils speak about their faith, demonstrate Gospel values and engage thoughtfully with the world around them.
As a result of our RE curriculum, pupils:
- Develop a secure knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith.
- Become confident in discussing religious ideas using appropriate vocabulary.
- Demonstrate respect, empathy and compassion towards others.
- Understand the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and how these apply to everyday life.
- Participate actively in prayer, liturgy and acts of service.
- Reflect deeply on questions of faith, meaning and purpose.
- Recognise their role as disciples and understand how they can make a positive difference in their communities.
Children leave St Martin’s as religiously literate, reflective and compassionate individuals who are equipped to continue their journey of faith and learning. They understand that they are loved by God and are called to use their gifts in the service of others.
Through Discerning Disciples, we are nurturing the next generation of faithful, thoughtful and active members of the Church and society.
