This week, Year 6 explored the very beginning of John’s Gospel, where Jesus is described as both the Word and the Light. The children discussed why Jesus might be given these titles and what they…
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 1 – Super Science Senses
This week in English, we were so excited to finish our stories! The children worked really hard to write their own beginnings, middles, and endings. We are also continuing to practise our sounds in phonics…
Read MoreFaith the Size of a Mustard Seed – episode 4.
Today’s episode is all about faith — and how even a tiny bit of it can make a huge difference. This week’s Gospel comes from Luke 17, and it starts with the apostles asking Jesus something we’ve all probably…
Read MoreYear 3: Human Dignity
This week in Year 3, the children have once again worked incredibly hard and shown real enthusiasm for their learning. It has been wonderful to see their effort, teamwork and thoughtfulness shining through in everything…
Read MoreEpisode 3: We are The Passionists and the Passion of Christ is always in our hearts.
Thank you to Jemima, Iliana, Sophia, and Kenny for hosting today’s episode of our amazing podcast. In this episode, you’ll discover some fascinating facts about the Passionists. They hold a very special place in our…
Read MoreYear 1: Heavenly Hands at Work
This week in English, we read and analysed Albert’s Discovery, comparing it to Major Glad and Major Dizzy. The children began planning their own stories, carefully using capital letters, full stops, finger spaces, and ‘and’…
Read MorePre-Nursery Little City, Big Adventures
This week in Pre-Nursery we had a wonderful morning attending the Little City workshop alongside some of our family. This experience included a little city set up in the hall with the opportunity for us…
Read MoreEpisode 2: St Carlo Acutis – “the saint with a laptop”
🎙️✨ Hello everyone! It’s Jemima and Myra hosting this week’s RE podcast 🙌. We’ll be sharing the amazing story of St Carlo Acutis — a modern saint known as “the saint with a laptop” 💻🙏. Saint Carlo Acutis…
Read MoreReception: God created the world!
This week in Reception, we explored how God created the world. We listened to Genesis 1:31 which said: ‘God looked at everything He had made, and indeed, it was very good.’ The children then created…
Read MoreYear 2: Exploring Our Wonderful World
Year 2 have had another busy and exciting week of learning in Yellow and Diamond Class! In Geography, we continued with our topic Our Wonderful World. The children explored the four countries of the United…
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