In line with the Bishop's directive, teaching of the new RED curriculum has been fully implemented across school from September 2026. More information about the RED can be found HERE
Our aims for Religious Education at Our Lady and St. Joseph's are set out by the Religious Education Directory:
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to engage in a systematic study of the mystery of God, of the life and teaching of Jesus Christ,the teachings of the Church, the central beliefs that Catholics hold, the basis for them and therelationship between faith and life;
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to enable pupils continually to deepen their religious and theological understanding and beable to communicate this effectively;
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to present an authentic vision of the Church’s moral and social teaching to provide pupilswith a sure guide for living and the tools to critically engage with contemporary culture andsociety;
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to give pupils an understanding of the religions and worldviews present in the world today andthe skills to engage in respectful and fruitful dialogue with those whose worldviews differ fromtheir own;
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to develop the critical faculties of pupils so to bring clarity to the relationship between faithand life, and between faith and culture;
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to stimulate pupils’ imagination and provoke a desire for personal meaning as revealed in thetruth of the Catholic faith;
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to enable pupils to relate the knowledge gained through religious education to their understanding of other subjects in the curriculum.
The outcome of excellent religious education is religiously literate and consciously engaged young people who have the knowledge, understanding, and skills – appropriate to their age and capacity – to reflect spiritually, and think ethically and theologically, and who recognise the demands of religious commitment in everyday life.
How RE is Taught Using the RED “To Know You More Clearly”
The Religious Education Directory (RED) is the new national framework for RE in Catholic schools in England and Wales. It provides a structured and theologically grounded approach to teaching RE from EYFS to Year 9. The title “To Know You More Clearly” expresses its purpose: helping pupils grow in knowledge, understanding, and relationship with God.
1. A Theologically Rooted Framework
The RED grounds the curriculum in Catholic theology, Scripture, Church teaching, tradition, and lived faith.
It draws on a structured programme of study that sets out:
It draws on a structured programme of study that sets out:
- The context and norms of RE in Catholic schools
- Age-phase outcomes pupils should reach
- A detailed model curriculum for each year group from EYFS to Year 9
This ensures consistency and a clear progression of learning.
2. Six Core Learning Lenses
The RED organises expected learning outcomes under six key strands:
- Hear – learning to listen to Scripture and the Christian story
- Believe – understanding key doctrines and teachings
- Celebrate – encountering the sacramental and liturgical life of the Church
- Live – living out the Christian call in moral and social life
- Dialogue – engaging with others and other worldviews
- Encounter – recognising God’s presence in life and relationships
These form the backbone of planning, assessment, and pupil progress.
3. Content Organised Through Six “Branches”
At Key Stage 3 (and echoed in the younger years), RE is taught through six thematic “branches”, each aligned to theological themes and the liturgical year. Examples include:
- Creation & Covenant – God as Creator, Genesis, revelation
- Prophecy & Promise – prophets pointing toward Christ
- Galilee to Jerusalem – Jesus’ life, ministry, and teachings
- Desert to Garden – Lent, Holy Week, and Resurrection
- To the Ends of the Earth – mission, apostles, the Church today
- Dialogue & Encounter – interfaith engagement and the common good
These branches shape the learning journey across the school year and invite pupils into both academic study and personal reflection.
4. A Structured Yearly Curriculum
We map each of the six branches onto the six half-terms of the school year.
Each unit invites pupils to:
Each unit invites pupils to:
- explore revelation and Scripture,
- understand Christian belief and its development,
- study the life of Christ and the Church,
- reflect on suffering, hope, and redemption,
- see how Christians act in the world,
- and engage respectfully with other faith traditions.
This creates a coherent, balanced curriculum blending theology, spirituality, and lived faith.
5. Teaching Approaches and Resources
Teachers use a variety of RED-supported materials to bring learning to life:
- Scriptural studies and theological explanations
- Artistic and visual sources (e.g., illuminated Scripture)
- Saints and witnesses to the Christian faith
- Discussion, reflection, and prayer moments
These approaches connect academic study with spiritual growth.
6. Aims and Vision of the RED
The RED serves the mission of our Catholic school to:
- make Christ known,
- support parents as primary educators of faith,
- nurture pupils as disciples,
- and provide high‑quality, rigorous RE.
The overall aim is to help pupils “know God more clearly”—intellectually, spiritually, and personally.