Our Religious Education Curriculum: To Know You More Clearly 

At St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Religious Education is at the heart of our school. It is more than a subject: it is central to our Catholic identity and to our mission to help every child know, love and serve God. Our Mission Statement reminds us that “We are God’s family; the Light of the World. We work, we play, we pray together” and calls us to ensure that every child can thrive, surrounded by respect and love. At the heart of this is the Gospel command: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)  

Our curriculum, To Know You More Clearly, has been created by the teachers of St Patrick’s using the Religious Education Directory (RED). It is faithful to Scripture and the teachings of the Catholic Church, while being carefully designed to meet the needs of our children and community. Through the RED lenses of Hear, Believe, Celebrate and Live, children encounter Scripture, deepen their knowledge of the Catholic faith and consider how God calls them to live. They are encouraged not only to understand, but also to discern and respond.

We want RE at St Patrick’s to be varied, engaging and meaningful. Children learn through Scripture, prayer, discussion, art, music, drama, reflection, practical experiences, visits and opportunities for service. Our curriculum deliberately enables children to make connections between their faith and everyday life: to recognise God’s presence, ask thoughtful questions and put their beliefs into action. This can be seen, for example, when pupils explore Jesus’ mission and consider how they can share God’s love through their own actions.  

Our Living and Learning Statements are woven through this curriculum. They encourage our children to be courageous and curious; generous and proud of their achievements; respectful and able to listen and discuss; loving and confident; honest and independent; hopeful and resilient. Each is rooted in Scripture and Catholic teaching, helping children understand what faith looks like when it is lived. The curriculum explicitly connects RE learning with these statements—for example, through Zacchaeus, children explore respectful listening, kindness and positive change.  

Ultimately, our RE curriculum seeks to form children who know their faith, encounter God and confidently live out Jesus’ command to love. In everything we teach and do, “Together we are growing in God’s love.”