This week in Reception, we explored our school prayer. We first of all started with the sign of the cross and shared how this starts and ends a prayer. We repeated each line and also…
Read MoreReligious Education
At St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that the aim of teaching quality Religious Education is to open pupils up to the divine mystery of God’s work. We endeavour to develop religiously literate children who are able to think spiritually, ethically and theologically. Our pupils are strongly encouraged to look at the world around them with a deep sense of awe and wonder as it is God’s wonderful creation. In addition, our children are taught to value and respect one another as we are all created in the image and likeness of God.
Religious Education in the curriculum
At St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, we are following the new Religious Education Directory (RED) and its program To know You more clearly. It is an innovative and enriching new Religious Education program that seeks to deepen the spiritual journey of pupils by fostering a profound understanding of Catholic teachings and values.
This program goes beyond the traditional curriculum, encouraging children to explore their faith through a lens of curiosity and introspection. Through engaging lessons, thoughtful reflections and interactive activities, To know You more clearly creates a dynamic learning environment that encourages pupils to connect with their spirituality on a personal level.
Teachers are encouraged to be as creative as possible in their lesson planning and to employ a range of teaching styles. The RED is scripture based, following the story of Jesus, and it is an invitation to Know Him more clearly. It allows children to get to know Him, to journey with Him through His life, death and resurrection. In addition, teachers include teaching and connections with Prayer and Liturgy, world faiths and worldviews, as well as Rooted in Love, the Diocese of Westminster Catholic Social Teaching program.
The RED is taught through six curriculum branches:
Branch 1 - Creation & Covenant
Branch 2 - Prophecy & Promise
Branch 3 - Galilee to Jerusalem
Branch 4 - Desert to Garden
Branch 5 - To the Ends of the Earth
Branch 6 - Dialogue & Encounter
Please find the whole-school overview here: RE Overview
Other faiths and worldviews, including non-religious worldviews
At St. Joseph's, we nurture respectful engagement and learning about diverse beliefs and worldviews. Here is how we approach it in Branch 6 of our RE curriculum, Dialogue and Encounter.
Dialogue
We emphasise the importance of respectful communication between Catholicism and other faiths, beliefs and worldviews. This dialogue reflects the call for Catholics to share their faith with kindness and openness, just as Jesus did. Rooted in God’s love for all, dialogue fosters understanding and harmony in a diverse world.
Pope St. Paul VI taught that dialogue begins with knowing ourselves and gradually extends outward:
- First, engaging with other Christian groups.
- Then, building interfaith connections with those who believe in one God, such as Jews and Muslims, with particular recognition of Catholicism’s shared roots with Judaism.
- Finally, connecting with all people, regardless of religion, to promote mutual respect and the common good.
Encounter
We encourage our pupils to explore and understand different religions and worldviews as part of their learning. This approach develops respect for cultural and spiritual diversity and helps them grow in their own faith. Children study:
- Other Christian denominations
- Judaism
- Islam
- Dharmic religions like Hinduism and Buddhism
- Non-religious worldviews
Our goal is to present each belief system from the perspective of its followers, helping pupils appreciate the richness of diversity without drawing comparisons. This nurtures respect for others and a peaceful coexistence in our shared world. Together, these elements prepare our pupils to engage meaningfully and compassionately in a multicultural society.
Judaism Workshop with Ruth Jampal from Judaism for Schools
The children had a wonderful day with Ruth learning about many different aspects of Judaism. From living the faith in everyday life to its traditions, symbols, artefacts and even learning Hebrew! Ruth was extremely engaging and the children had a fabulous day. Take a look at some of the photographs below to see the amazing activities the children were involved in.
Year 2: Curious Minds, Calm Moments
What a fantastic start our Year 2 children have made! Both Yellow and Diamond Class have settled beautifully into the new school year, showing kindness, curiosity, and a real enthusiasm for learning. This week, we’ve…
Read MorePre-Nursery-Our First Full Week
This week in Pre-Nursery we have continued to welcome new friends and explore our environments. The children have been developing their friendships as well as mark-making, painting, playing with playdough and exploring the outdoor areas….
Read MoreYear 6: St. Carlo Acutis
Today in RE, Year 6 learned about Carlo Acutis, a young boy who used his love of computers and the internet to share his faith. We found out that he was recently canonised as a…
Read MoreYear 3: Welcome Back!
What a fantastic start to the year it has been! We’ve had such a wonderful first three days together in Year 3, and it’s been lovely to see everyone settling in so well. Already, we…
Read MoreYear 2: Welcome Back!
What a brilliant start we’ve had in Year 2! During our first week, we spent time getting to know each other, sharing things about ourselves, and building on our friendships. We talked about what life…
Read MoreWelcome to Pre-Nursery
This week in Pre-Nursery the children have settled well into their classes and we have welcomed some new friends into our classes. The children and the adults have been spending time getting to know each…
Read MoreNursery Settles In
Nursery have done a wonderful job of settling in during their first few days at school. We have already learnt many of our routines and have been practising great choices such as good listening on…
Read MoreFirst week in Reception!
Wow!! What a start to our first week in Reception! We have made lots of new friends and we have enjoyed playing in our new areas, especially outdoors (when the sun came out to play!)….
Read MoreEducation Sunday 2025
We’re excited to invite all parents, carers and families to join us for Education Sunday 2025 on Sunday 14th September at 10am in St. Joseph’s Church, Highgate. This special day celebrates learning, teaching and the…
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