Religious Education is at the heart of our curriculum and plays a central role in the Catholic life and
mission of our school. Through RE, pupils are supported to grow in their knowledge and understanding of
the Catholic faith, deepen their relationship with God and reflect on how faith can shape the way they
live.

From September 2026, we are teaching the new Religious Education curriculum in line with the Religious
Education Directory, To Know You More Clearly. The RED presents the teaching of religious education in
a sequential and progressive form, rooted in the liturgical year. We follow the Archdiocese of
Birmingham's Discerning Disciples approach to support the implementation of the RED across our school.

The Six Curriculum Branches
The Religious Education curriculum is organised into six branches, with one branch taught during each
half-term of the school year. These branches are revisited in every year group, allowing pupils to build
on their prior learning and develop increasingly deep knowledge and understanding as they progress
through the school.
The six branches are:
● Branch 1 – Creation and Covenant
● Branch 2 – Prophecy and Promise
● Branch 3 – Galilee to Jerusalem
● Branch 4 – Desert to Garden
● Branch 5 – To the Ends of the Earth
● Branch 6 – Dialogue and Encounter

Each branch provides opportunities for pupils to explore Scripture, Catholic teaching, the life of Jesus,
the life and mission of the Church and what it means to live as a disciple of Christ today.
Knowledge Lenses

Within each branch, pupils explore their learning through four Knowledge Lenses:
Hear – encountering and exploring Sacred Scripture and other important sources of Catholic teaching.
Believe – developing an understanding of what Catholics believe and the teachings of the Church.
Celebrate – exploring how Catholics worship through prayer, liturgy and the sacramental life of the
Church.
Live – considering how Catholic faith and teaching influence the way we live, make choices and respond to
others.

Ways of Knowing
Alongside developing knowledge, pupils are encouraged to think deeply about what they learn through
three Ways of Knowing:

Understand – building secure knowledge and explaining the meaning and significance of what has been
learned.
Discern – thinking critically and reflectively, considering different ideas and making connections
between faith, Scripture and life.
Respond – reflecting personally on learning and considering how it may influence attitudes, choices and
actions.

Through these elements, pupils are encouraged not only to know more about the Catholic faith, but also
to consider what their learning means for them and for the way they engage with the world around
them.

Our aim is for every child to develop strong religious literacy, curiosity and confidence, while recognising
the dignity of every person and understanding their responsibility to contribute positively to their
community and the wider world.