RE Curriculum

The religious education at St Josephs is according to the rites and practice of the Roman Catholic Church. The curriculum, in all its aspects reflects the fact that Jesus Christ is the foundation of the whole educational experience.  RE accounts for 10 % of the total teaching time and is based on the Diocesan Scheme  'The Way, The Truth and The Life'.

At St Josephs the lessons are split into 2 distinct sessions:

1. A creative session, where teaching uses drama, art, music, ICT and writing to provide the foundations of their learning.  Children are asked wonder and exploration questions during or at the end of the session to consider their learning. 

2. A reflective task where children focus on using their knowledge acquired during the creative session to reflect and apply to situations.  Children are then challenged to extend their thinking. 

In addition to their study of the Catholic faith the children learn about other World faiths where they spend one morning each half term to exploring a World faith:

Autumn 1 - Buddhist Faith
Autumn 2 - Hindu Faith
Spring 1 - Jewish Faith
Spring 2 - Islam 

Summer 1 - Sikh Faith

Summer 2 - Christinity

During the morning a Faith Visitor delivers an assembly on the relevant focus for their year group. This is completed on a rolling programme. The children present their work in a class multi faith book.

3. Spiritual Retreat

As part of the RE Curriculum, the children go on a 3 day retreat to Minsteracres.  During this time at Lent the children have a chance to experience a variety of ways to pray and communicate with God.

The children experience:

A pilgrimage, Taize prayer, prayer through song, creative prayer, stilling exercises, meditation, prayer through art, building a life through prayer, creating a prayer space and lexio divina.

There is a prayer garden and spaces to collect thoughts.  The children will go on a prayer walk to explore nature and God’s beauty in the natural environment.

Minsteracres 2024