St Michael & St Martin Catholic Primary School
Religious Education
"There is a clear and dynamic vision for religious education which is shared by all staff and governors."
"Teaching is both creative and inspiring and a variety of teaching strategies are used to match pupils' needs. Pupils make rapid progress in their RE lessons."
Section 48 Inspection-May 2022
RCDOW - Key Documents & Policies
Religious Education at St Michael & St Martin School
This school sees Religious Education as the Core and foundation of the entire educational process. Because of this, each child is valued for what he/she is rather than for what he/she can do, and every child is given equal opportunity for development to the highest potential. Through Religious Education, we communicate the beliefs and values which should inspire and unify every aspect of school life and the curriculum. This gives St Michael & St Martin its distinctive nature as a Catholic School.
Children who become part of St Michael & St Martin School are able to be in touch with God, to know his Church and to know the meaning of Discipleship. We believe that Religious Education is not a subject among many but the foundation of the entire education process. In addition to studying the Life and Teachings of Jesus, the children study a variety of World Faiths. This enables our children to understand more about the larger community outside home and school. We show the similarities rather than the differences. We have a duty to foster these similarities because God made all men and women to dwell on earth in harmony.
To help the children develop their knowledge of their faith, the school uses the RE Directory – To Know You More Clearly.
Religious Education Curriculum Directory
RE Policy
Planning Cycle
Knowledge Organisers – Branch 1
Other Faiths:
All Catholic schools are required to teach about other religions as part of the Religious Education curriculum. This is a feature of Catholic RE in all stages of a child's development, from the beginning of primary school until the end of secondary school.
Why do Catholic schools teach about other religions?
Teaching about other religions is important for several reasons:
- Learning about the religion and cultures of those who do not share the Catholic faith is one of the ways in which Catholic schools embody the call to love one’s neighbour. As the Church says, “The love for all men and women is necessarily also a love for their culture. Catholic schools are, by their very vocation, intercultural.” (Congregation for Catholic Education p61).
- It is required by the Bishops, who state that the Catholic nature of our schools entails “a willingness… to try to understand better the religion of one’s neighbours, and to experience something of their religious life and culture.” (Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales).
- Many of the children in Catholic schools are practicing members of other faiths and our schools need to be places of hospitality for these children. It is an act of respect and courtesy that our curriculum helps them to reflect on the nature of their own religious identity. As the Church says, “All children and young people [including those of other faiths in our Catholic schools] must have the same possibilities for arriving at the knowledge of their own religion as well as of elements that characterise other religions.” (Congregation for Catholic Education)
- It prepares the pupils in our Catholic schools for life in modern Britain, giving them an understanding of the beliefs of others. This in turn will improve social cohesion and contribute to the common good by increasing mutual respect between those of different religions.
Right of Withdrawal from Religious Education
St Michael & St Martin Catholic Primary School is a Catholic school in which Religious Education is at the heart of our curriculum and school life. Religious Education is a core subject and is taught in accordance with the requirements of the Diocese of Westminster and the Religious Education Directory.
Parents and carers have the legal right to withdraw their child from all or part of Religious Education.
We encourage any parent considering withdrawal to meet with the Headteacher in the first instance so that the nature and purpose of Religious Education within our Catholic school can be discussed and any questions or concerns explored.
Parents wishing to exercise their right of withdrawal should make their request in writing to the Headteacher. Appropriate arrangements will then be discussed with the family.