RE

Subject Lead = Mrs Jordan

What Religious Education looks like at Saint Augustine's

_{At St Augustine’s our vision is to support our children to attain a deeper knowledge and spiritual understanding of their Catholic faith. The teaching of Religious Education is at the heart of everything we do at St Augustine’s and helps us to fulfil our mission statement to Live, Love and Learn together in the Light of the Life of Christ. Religious Education is taught through lessons using our Birmingham Diocesan programme 'Learning and Growing as the People of God' and also through celebrations, prayer and everyday experiences in school.}

Our School Mission Statement

_{We Live, Love and Learn together in the light of the life of Christ.}

MASS

Mass is celebrated most Fridays in school or in St Austin’s, either as a whole school, in Key Stages or in class groups. Additionally, we celebrate together on feast days throughout the year. Parents, governors and parishioners are invited to join all our Masses. The children are regularly invited to lead Sunday mass at St Francis of Assisi on Sundays throughout the year.

SACRAMENTS OF FIRST HOLY COMMUNION, RECONCILIATION AND CONFIRMATION

Children begin their preparation for First Holy Communion and Confession when they begin Year Three. Children will make their First Reconciliation in March and their First Holy Communion in June. Children further develop their Faith when they are Confirmed in Year 6. This celebration takes place in February.

PRAYERS

Prayer is a special part of our day. Children pray at various times during the school day including before and after lunch, and morning and end of day prayers. In addition to this, children experience different prayers and ways to pray in weekly class liturgy and whole school liturgies. Each of our classes are introduced to and learn a set of prayers as they begin each year group, to widen their knowledge. Our staff all begin staff meetings with a focus on prayer.

CURRICULUM

What does this look like in Religious Education?

At St Augustine's all children are supported to attain a deeper knowledge and spiritual understanding of their Catholic faith. We guide, support and prepare children to be ambassadors of Christ within their daily lives through: learning about the teachings of Jesus, worship, prayer and by creating enjoyment in meaningful spiritual encounters with Christ. The teaching of Religious Education is at the heart of everything we do at St Augustine's. Religious Education is taught through lessons using the Diocesan strategy 'Learning and Growing as the People of God' and also through celebrations, prayer and everyday experiences in school.

Curriculum Intent

Through an enriching curriculum, Religious Education at St. Augustine’s promotes the enjoyment as well as the awe and wonder for the subject. Pupils engage with a variety of opportunities in lessons, following the Learning and Growing as People of God curriculum strategy. We aim for all pupils to:

• Develop religious literacy, using new, explicitly-taught religious vocabulary, to speak eloquently about the teachings of Christ and the living of Christ in our faith today.

• Practise and apply the Age-Related Standards in each phase of their school life, developing in their knowledge and understanding of the skills of AT1: knowledge and understanding; AT2: engagement and response; AT3: analysis and evaluation.

Curriculum Implementation

Each lesson explores the Learning Objectives set out in the Learning and Growing as People of God curriculum strategy. What a typical lesson looks like:

•Hook task - an opportunity for pupils to retrieve and build upon previously acquired skills; develop their awe and wonder; demonstrate religious literacy; explore the beauty of religious art work and scripture; discuss their experience of faith and the teachings of Christ through discussion.

• Vocabulary: new religious vocabulary is explicitly taught and explored. Children are encouraged to apply the newly taught vocabulary throughout each unit.

• Children are introduced to new learning. Pupils are exposed to scripture, referring to the Bible; watch and listen to key religious figures; attend Church to explore religious signs and symbols; explore religious art work and produce their own; explore the words of hymns and psalms.

• We ensure that Religious Education is taught in creative ways so that pupils enjoy the subject. We do this through opportunities such as: role play, incorporating elements of ICT and writing for purpose (including writing to members of the Parish and children from other Magnificat schools).

• Reflection: Pupils have access each lesson for a time to reflect, which enables them to develop deeper thinking, identify similarities and differences and make links with other aspects of religious teachings.

Assessment Within Religious Education

We assess using formative and summative assessments. At the beginning of each taught unit in Learning and Growing as People of God, children reflect on what they already know and discuss prior learning. E.g. What do you already know and remember about Holy Week? At the end of each area of learning, pupils reflect on what they have learnt and are given time to reflect. After each assessed unit, teachers input summative assessment data for each child; providing a clear indication of pupils’ progress and attainment across the assessed units. Assessment for learning provides teachers with a clear indication of who needs additional support, identifies misconceptions and informs them of who requires further challenge and stretch. Teachers/Leaders participate in internal and Magnificat wide moderation. The RE Lead also attends moderation with other Diocesan schools. Within the Autumn and Spring Term, parents are informed of pupils’ progress in Religious Education during parents evenings and through progress reports and their attainment is shared in their end of year report.

Curriculum Impact

Children are equipped with the knowledge and skills to live, love and learn in the light of the life Christ. Through our enriching Religious Education curriculum, we enable pupils to understand Jesus’ teachings and live out their mission within our global community. Through Prayer and Liturgy, we strengthen pupils’ understanding by providing them with opportunities to draw closer to God and the Saints.

In Catholic Life and Mission, we provide enrichment opportunities which enables children to live out the Catholic teachings in their day to day life, ensuring that they are living life to the full, as Jesus taught us to.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Review

St. Augustine’s implement a systematic approach to Monitoring, Evaluation and Review in Religious Education which comprises of the following:

• Learning walks and formal lesson observations;

• Book trawls

• Pupil interviews;

• Data analysis and pupil progress meetings

Withdrawal

In England, parents and carers have the right to withdraw their children from Religious Education. This right of withdrawal exists for all pupils in all types of schools. Parents and carers also have the right to withdraw their child from part of RE and can do so without giving any explanation.

Parents who wish to withdraw their children from RE should be aware of its aims and what is covered in the RE curriculum and that they are given the opportunity to discuss this if they wish. It should be made clear whether the withdrawal is from the whole RE curriculum or specific parts of it. 

If you wish to withdraw your child from RE, or parts of RE, please contact the Headteacher, Mrs Williams.

Important – limitations to withdraw

If pupils are withdrawn from RE, schools have a duty to supervise them, though not to provide additional teaching. A pupil may be required to work in another area of the school, such as the library or shared area.

Whilst parents or carers have a right to withdraw children from RE, they should note that children will encounter religion and beliefs and wider aspects of faith in other areas of the curriculum from which there is no right of withdrawal.