Religious Education
RE curriculum overview
Our curriculum aims to offer ‘Excellence for all, through Jesus’ love.’
With Jesus at the heart, we intend to provide:
- Excellence for all children
- Excellence for all staff
- Excellent spaces and opportunities to learn
“Our schools are there in order to be a service to society, in the creation of a society that is ‘highly educated, skilled and cultured’. We do this by being faithful to Christ, the Eternal Word of Truth, the one in whom, alone, the fullness of nature is expressed and in whom the fullness of the Creator is to be found. He is at the centre”.
(Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham, February 2006)
Our RE curriculum at St Modwen’s is the Diocesan Scheme of Work, Learning and Growing as the People of God. This programme incorporates clear guidelines on how to communicate the doctrine outlined in the text and ensures continuity and progression. As children move through our RE curriculum, they will become more aware and reflect on their experience of living in the world and with others. They will respond to God’s love in their lives, acknowledging God’s offer of salvation in the sacraments. They will partake in activities including storytelling, role play, artwork, discussion, reading and independent research as well as contribute to the Catholic ethos of the school by regularly celebrating Mass together and joining in regular acts of Collective Worship. Religious concepts may be explored and understood at different levels and in different ways through emotions, imagination and experience.
In Year 3, our practising Catholic pupils are invited to partake in their First Holy Communion at Ss Modwen’s and Mary’s church in Burton town centre. The Year 3 curriculum provides ample time and opportunity to prepare the children for this act of commitment. In Year 6, our pupils are then invited to celebrate another sacrament: Confirmation. A highlight of the calendar year, this event allows the pupils to reflect on the spiritual maturity they have gained throughout their time at St Modwen’s.
In addition to weekly Mass, acts of Collective Worship and RE lessons, we celebrate the Jesuit virtues in our weekly celebration assembly when pupils are awarded for demonstrating the different virtues in their classroom. Throughout their time at St Modwen’s, pupils will also be given the opportunity to partake in performances that retell famous stories from the bible, including our KS1 Nativities, LKS2 Easter production and UKS2 Christmas carol events.
We also utilise Caritas in Action (a Catholic social teaching programme) and Ten:Ten Collective Worship resources to further bolster our RE provision.