Religious Education
Mission Statement
"Following Christ we reach our goals."
Religious Education at St Edward’s Catholic Primary School
‘Following Christ we reach our goals’
At St Edward’s, Religious Education is the absolute heart of everything we do. We are proud to be part of ‘Our Lady of Grace Trust’, working in partnership with our parish, families, and the Diocese of Brentwood to form children who are compassionate, curious, reflective, and inspired by the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Our Vision for Religious Education
At St Edward’s, we believe every child is uniquely created and loved by God. Our RE curriculum enables pupils to:
- Develop a deep and personal relationship with God.
- Grow in knowledge of Scripture, Catholic teaching, and tradition.
- Understand the richness of the Catholic faith and how it is lived today.
- Think theologically, ethically, and spiritually.
- Engage in respectful and fruitful dialogue with people of all faiths and world views.
- Live out Gospel values and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) through joyful service and community action.
- Prepare with reverence and joy alongside our parish for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
The Religious Education Directory (RED) 2023
We follow To Know You More Clearly—the Religious Education Directory (2023), which is the national framework for Catholic schools in England. Grounded in this framework, school leaders and governors ensure that Religious Education is treated as the ‘core of the core’ of our curriculum, enjoying the same academic depth, parity, and standards as other core subjects.
This framework ensures our RE curriculum is:
- Progressive, coherent, and beautifully sequenced.
- Rooted in Scripture and the living tradition of the Church.
- Aligned with modern Catholic theology.
- Designed to form religiously literate, engaged young people who are confident in their faith and ready to meet the demands of everyday life.
The curriculum is structured precisely through the RED’s:
- Curriculum Branches
- Knowledge Lenses
- Ways of Knowing
- We allocate at least 10% of curriculum time to Religious Education across all key stages.
Teaching, Learning & Assessment in RE
Teaching in RE at St Edward’s is highly effective because:
Teaching in RE at St Edward’s is highly effective because:
- Staff receive continuous, high-quality professional development from school leaders and the Brentwood Diocesan Education Service.
- Teachers hold secure subject knowledge and use creative, modern pedagogical approaches.
The Ways of Knowing structure our pupil's critical thinking, deep classroom discussions, and accurate assessment points. - Learning is dynamically adapted so that all pupils, including those with SEND and those who are disadvantaged, actively engage and make excellent progress.
- Pupils confidently engage in rich theological dialogue, reasoning, and reflection.
- Feedback is purposeful and directly aligned to clear learning intentions.
- RE books show exceptional standards, absolute pride, and beautifully presented work.
- Pupils consistently achieve outstanding outcomes in RE, matching or exceeding performance levels in other core subjects.
Learning About Other Faiths
In line with the Church’s call to dialogue and encounter, pupils engage in the rigorous study of:
In line with the Church’s call to dialogue and encounter, pupils engage in the rigorous study of:
- Judaism
- Islam
- Other Christian denominations
Leadership of RE Religious Education at St Edward’s is strategically led by our;
Headteacher - Paul Underwood
Deputy Headteacher - Natasha Casely
RE Leader - Maria Dourado
Our Governing Body actively monitors and challenges: Curriculum intent and implementation. RE teaching, learning, and Catholic Life. Assessment and standards of pupil outcomes.
Deputy Headteacher - Natasha Casely
RE Leader - Maria Dourado
Our Governing Body actively monitors and challenges: Curriculum intent and implementation. RE teaching, learning, and Catholic Life. Assessment and standards of pupil outcomes.