Subject Statement of Intent Religious Education

Holy Rosary RC Primary School is a Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided School. It is part of a network of schools provided by the Salford Diocese and maintained by Oldham Local Authority. At Holy Rosary we work extremely closely with the catholic family of Oldham schools, this family is called CFOS (Catholic Federation of Oldham Schools). The school was built by and is supported by practicing Catholics. At Holy Rosary we believe that the strong Catholic links to the Diocese and CFOS are an extremely important way of supporting and developing our Catholic family. 

We believe that Religious Education is not just a lesson with a start and end time. It is our whole way of life and can be seen in all that we do and are. At Holy Rosary we are all God’s missionary disciples with Jesus at the heart of all that we do.

RE is taught discretely for 10% of the timetable (2 ½ hours a week) using the school’s own curriculum which covers the Religious Education Directory. The RE curriculum is extremely important and as such is given high importance in the weekly timetable. The curriculum ensures that the children grow in faith and belief. It helps them to understand and interpret their faith for themselves. 

Lectio Divina is part of RE teachings, ensuring that all children are given the opportunity to explore scripture during a theme. 

Through the curriculum, children are given the opportunity to explore some of the other world religions: Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam. Each year ensures they cover a different element of these faiths and knowledge is developed in a progressive way.  

Key Stage assemblies are based on Caritas and each week focuses on a different Catholic Social Teaching. These assemblies support the children’s spiritual and moral growth and are linked to British Values.  

Although RE is taught discretely through RE sessions it is also taught through the ethos and values of everyday school life, including prayer and liturgy.

Prayer and reflection play an important role at Holy Rosary and we ensure that all children are given the opportunity to take part in daily prayer and liturgies, assemblies, and masses. We ensure that we celebrate important religious celebrations through school masses and special assemblies, and ensure that children understand why these celebrations are important.   

At Holy Rosary we support our Year 3 children on their spiritual journey. They are supported, through school, as they prepare for their reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Through this preparation, children continue on their spiritual journey and develop into stronger more confident Catholics.            

At Holy Rosary the spiritual and moral well-being of all stakeholders is extremely important, with assemblies, caritas and our ethos supporting this. We enjoy celebrations and reflection days in which parents and parishioners are invited. These are a really important way of showing our children that they are supported at home, in the parish as well as at school.

What we teach in RE across the school – Progression Grid

    When we teach RE throughout the year

Prayer and Liturgy Timetable 

Assessment

RE is assessed and recorded on our tracking system – insight.  Teachers assess children throughout each unit of work and use our marking and feedback policy to ensure they have a clear understanding of children’s achievements.

All children at Holy Rosary are assessed from Nursery to Year 6.

Children are assessed as:

– Working Towards – they are not quite at age-related but are working towards the required statements 

– Expected –  children are working at the expected level for their age

– Above – Children show  good skills, knowledge, and understanding and can apply their learning

– Greater Depth – skills, knowledge and understanding is applied naturally without prompting 

Religious Education News