Religious Education is taught throughout St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy using the Come and See programme. “Come and See” is an invitation and a promise of life for everyone. The invitation is open to all. In response to the question ‘Where do you live?’ Jesus invited the disciples to ‘Come and See.’ They went with Jesus and spent the rest of that day with him.
We recognise that all children are at different stages in their journey of faith; for some children RE is catechesis and part of their formation in the faith. Those who receive the invitation to ‘Come and See’ may also offer it to others. In the same invitation we remember that for some of our children RE will be evangelisation, the first opportunity to hear the good news.
Religious Education is a core subject of our curriculum, teaching and learning in RE makes up 10% of curriculum time. It is taught rigorously with the same expectations as other core subjects whilst maintaining a creative element and encouraging children to question and reflect.
Each term pupils’ study three topics, each lasting four weeks following a common theme across the school. As the children move through school this theme is developed further, appropriate to the pupils age and stage of learning.
The structure of the 4 week topic consists of:
Explore (1 Week)
- Introduces the topic
- The children’s life experience is explored
- The questions raised are wondered at, shared, investigated and their significance reflected upon
- Focus on AT2 Reflection on meaning.
Reveal (2 Weeks)
- Heart of the programme
- Knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith revealed through Scripture, Tradition, doctrine, prayers, rites and Christian living
- Focus on AT1 Knowledge and Understanding & AT2 Reflection on Meaning
Respond (1 Week)
- Learning is remembered, celebrated and responded to in daily life
Other Faiths
Judaism is taught in the Autumn Term.
Islam is taught in the Spring Term.