As a Catholic School, 10% of our curriculum time is devoted to Religious Education. This is separate from times of Daily Worship and Collective Worship which happen in addition to the curriculum. This means that each class dedicates 2.5 hours a week for taught RE.

At St Peter’s, we follow the Religious Education Directory (RED) Curriculum ‘To know you more clearly’ (June 2023). The RED fulfils the requirements of the Bishop’s Conference which sets forth the expectations for what should be covered by Religious Education teaching in Catholic Schools in England and Wales.

Our planning is supplemented by the Nottingham Diocese Scheme of work which has been developed in collaboration and has been trialled before being rolled out to all schools from the 25-26 academic year.

The new RED is designed to deepen students’ spiritual growth by nurturing a rich understanding of Catholic beliefs and values. It invites students to explore their faith with curiosity, reflection, and personal engagement. Through the planning and delivery of creative and immersive lessons, reflective practices, and active participation, the curriculum creates an environment where children are encouraged to encounter their faith in a meaningful and personal way. More than just delivering knowledge, the curriculum helps foster a lasting relationship with God.

At the heart of every Branch is Scripture, which serves as the foundation for building knowledge, understanding, practical skills, empathy, and a sense of awe and wonder throughout the curriculum.

As part of following the RED, children are taught about other world religions so that they develop an appreciation for faith in a wider sense and are appreciative and respectful of the religious beliefs, practices and observances of others thus enabling them to be responsible and constructive members of the multi-cultural, multi-faith society in which they live.

Although preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are completed outside of school within the Parish community, during Year 4, the RE curriculum also supports children in this journey towards fuller participation in the Mass and the life of the Church.

Religious Education Directory Overview

The model curriculum divides the school year into six ‘branches’ which are explored through four ‘knowledge lenses and three ‘ways of knowing’

The Six Branches

The curriculum branches take pupils on a journey each year. Pupils revisit the same branches every year to deepen understanding.

  1. Creation & Covenant
  2. Prophecy & Promise
  3. From Galilee to Jerusalem
  4. From Desert to Garden
  5. To the Ends of the Earth
  6. Dialogue & Encounter (includes other faiths and worldviews)

Knowledge Lenses

The knowledge lenses indicate what should be known by the end of each age phase. They are referred to as lenses since they are what we are looking at. 

  • Hear: God’s revelation via Scripture
  • Believe: Understanding the Creed (Trinity, Incarnation, etc.)
  • Celebrate: Liturgy, sacraments, and prayer
  • Live: How belief shapes moral and social action
  • (For Dialogue & Encounter): Respectful engagement with other religions

Ways of Knowing

The ways of knowing describe the skills that pupils develop as they progress though the religious education curriculum. These are:

  • Understand: Gaining deep comprehension of texts and practices
  • Discern: Evaluating meaning, truth, beauty, and implications
  • Respond: Reflecting and responding personally and contextually

Curriculum Overviews and Policies

‘To Know You More Clearly’ – RED

Religious Education Curriculum Overview

Big Questions Grid