Department overview

According to Pope St John Paul II, RE is the “core of the core curriculum” in a Catholic school. RE is at the heart of our school community, fulfilling its mission to deliver a transformative Catholic Education that encourages our students to serve the common good. We are committed to ensuring that all our students flourish academically and grow spiritually while developing their God given talents so that they can become the best version of themselves.

During their time with us, students will become religiously literate as they develop the knowledge, skills and understanding of the beliefs, teachings and tradition of the Catholic Church. Students will also be given the opportunity to encounter other World Religions in recognition of the UK as a multifaith and multicultural society with tolerance and respect at its heart.

Key Stage 3 curriculum

At KS3, we follow the Religious Education Directory, which is a spiralised curriculum, which returns to the same themes each year. These themes reflect the Catholic Church’s liturgical year. Each year the pupils follow these themes:

Autumn term 1 – Creation and covenant

Autumn term 2 – Prophecy and Promise

Spring term 1 – Galilee to Jerusalem

Spring term 2 – Desert to garden

Summer term 1 – To the ends of the earth

Summer term 2 – Dialogue and encounter

Key Stage 4 curriculum

At KS4 pupils follow Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies route B. Component 1 is Foundational Catholic Theology and is made of two topics; Origins and Meaning and Good and evil. Component 2 is Applied Catholic Theology which is made of two topics; Life and death and Sin and forgiveness. Component 3 is a study of Judaism, which explores beliefs, teachings and practices.

Key Stage 5 curriculum

At KS5 all students study Theology in Action, which is part of their entitlement as they attend a Catholic College. The course continues their understanding of religion and worldviews, but explores their learning through an exploration of virtues. This supports our students in flourishing as they reach their adult life, ensuring that they are able to contribute to their communities and the wider world in a meaningful way. Within Theology in Action, students are able to achieve the Stella Maris Award.

We also provide an A level Philosophy and ethics.

Catholic Social Teaching

Catholic social teaching is at the heart of all we do in the RE department and is a thread that runs through all elements of the subject. Some examples include, when pupils learn about the Creation accounts in Genesis, they reflect upon stewardship and human dignity. They learn examples of solidarity when they learn about the life of Dorothy Day, they learn about peace and reconciliation when they study the death penalty and Church documents at GCSE.

Enrichment opportunities

• Extensive revision opportunities at GCSE and A level
• Bible study group
• Craft and culture group

Curriculum Road Map

Years 7-9

• Autumn term 1 – Creation and covenant
• Autumn term 2 – Prophecy and Promise
• Spring term 1 – Galilee to Jerusalem
• Spring term 2 – Desert to garden
• Summer term 1 – To the ends of the earth
• Summer term 2 – Dialogue and encounter

Years 10-11

At KS4 pupils follow Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies route B.

Component 1 is Foundational Catholic Theology and is made of two topics;

• Origins and Meaning
• Good and evil.

Component 2 is Applied Catholic Theology which is made of two topics;

• Life and death
• Sin and forgiveness.

Component 3

A study of Judaism, which explores beliefs, teachings and practices.