Religious Education

At Christ the King Catholic Primary School, Religious Education is at the heart of our curriculum and school life. Guided by our mission statement:

"To live together in harmony, to grow and develop in Christ, and to reflect God's love in all that we do."

We support our children in becoming religiously literate and engaged young people who develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to reflect spiritually and think ethically and theologically. Through our RE curriculum, we nurture a deep understanding of the Catholic faith and encourage pupils to value and respect one another, care for God's creation and work towards the common good.

Religious Education inspires our pupils to deepen their relationship with God, grow in their understanding of the Gospel and respond to Christ's call to serve others with compassion, dignity and respect.

Religious Education in the Curriculum

At Christ the King Catholic Primary School, we follow the Religious Education Directory (RED), which provides a rich and ambitious programme of study for Catholic schools. Staff receive ongoing training and support to ensure the delivery of high-quality and engaging Religious Education lessons.

Teachers are encouraged to plan creative and inspiring learning experiences using a range of teaching approaches that meet the needs of all learners. The RED is rooted in Scripture, following the story of Jesus and inviting pupils to "Know Him more clearly." Learning is enriched through meaningful links with Prayer and Liturgy, as well as Rooted in Love, the Diocese of Westminster's Catholic Social Teaching programme.

The curriculum is organised into six branches, with one branch taught each half term throughout the academic year. Each branch explores key aspects of Revelation, Scripture, life in Christ and life in the Church. Pupils are encouraged to engage both academically and personally with their learning, enabling them to see, judge and act through a deeper understanding of the Christian faith.

The Six Branches

• 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

Branch 1: Creation and Covenant

"The heavens are telling the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1).

In this branch, pupils encounter the God who creates and calls a people. They explore the Christian belief that all creation comes from God, the Creation accounts in Genesis, and scientific understandings of creation. Pupils learn about God's covenantal relationship with His people through the stories of Abraham, Moses and the wider narrative of the Old Testament.

Branch 2: Prophecy and Promise

"In many and various ways, God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets" (Hebrews 1:1).

This branch explores how God speaks to His people through the prophets, calling them into relationship with Him. Pupils learn how the prophets point towards the fulfilment of God's promise through Jesus Christ, the Messiah. They explore the season of Advent, the anticipation of Christ's coming, and the story of the Nativity and Incarnation.

Branch 3: Galilee to Jerusalem

"God's only Son, who is at the Father's side, has made Him known" (John 1:18).

Pupils encounter the ministry of Jesus, learning about His life, teachings, miracles, parables and encounters with others. They explore the call of the disciples and what it means to follow Jesus today, developing an understanding of the Kingdom of God and Christ's message of love and service.

Branch 4: Desert to Garden

"Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day" (1 Corinthians 15:3).

In this branch, pupils learn about Lent and its culmination in the events of Holy Week. They study the Paschal Triduum, which is at the heart of the Church's liturgy and life. Through this learning, children explore the journey from darkness to light, death to life, and barrenness to fruitfulness through the Resurrection of Christ.

Branch 5: To the Ends of the Earth

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19).

Pupils learn about the events that followed Christ's Resurrection and Ascension, including the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the mission of the Apostles. They also explore the life of the Catholic Church today and how its structures, traditions and liturgical life have grown from the early Church.

Branch 6: Dialogue and Encounter

"For in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).

In this branch, pupils learn how Christians work alongside people of different faiths and beliefs, as well as all people of goodwill, to promote the common good and uphold the dignity of every person. They also explore other faith traditions and world views, developing respect, understanding and appreciation of the diverse communities within modern society.

A Closer Look at Branch 6

Dialogue

Pupils learn about the Catholic Church's relationship with other Christian denominations, Judaism, Islam, other faith traditions and non-religious world views. They explore how dialogue promotes mutual respect, understanding and peaceful coexistence.

Encounter

Pupils take part in discrete studies of other faiths, religions and world views. The order in which these are studied follows the model proposed by Pope Saint Paul VI in his encyclical Ecclesiam Suam.

To enrich this learning, pupils participate in religious workshops and benefit from visits and talks by representatives of different faith communities. Festivals and significant religious celebrations, such as Diwali, are recognised through assemblies, classroom learning and special celebration activities. In the Early Years, children explore a range of religious festivals through dedicated celebration books and seasonal learning opportunities, helping them to appreciate and understand the beliefs and traditions of others from an early age.