Our Curriculum
“To know you more clearly”
Prayer of St Richard of Chichester
“The primary purpose of Catholic Religious Education is to come to know and understand God’s revelation which is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.”
Religious Education Curriculum Directory (3-19) for Catholic Schools and Colleges in England and Wales
At the heart of Catholic Education lies the Christian vision of the human person. This vision is explored in Religious Education (RE) making RE the core subject in a Catholic school. The specific contribution to the life of the Catholic school of curriculum RE is primarily educational. Its primary purpose is to draw pupils into a systematic study of Catholic Christianity and to explore the contribution of Christianity and other religions to culture, personal commitment, and action in everyday life.
The Religious Education Curriculum Directory (RECD 2012) makes the aims of Religious Education explicit:
- To present a comprehensive content which is the basis of knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith;
- To enable pupils continually to deepen their religious and theological understanding and be able to communicate this effectively;
- To present an authentic vision of the Church’s moral and social teaching so that pupils can make a critique of the underlying trends in contemporary culture and society;
- To raise pupils’ awareness of the faith and traditions of other religious communities in order to respect and understand them;
- To develop the critical faculties of pupils so that they can relate their Catholic faith to daily life;
- To stimulate pupils’ imagination and provoke a desire for personal meaning as revealed in the truth of the Catholic faith;
- To enable pupils to relate the knowledge gained through Religious Education to their understanding of other subjects in the curriculum;
- To bring clarity to the relationship between faith and life, and between faith and culture.
The outcome of excellent Religious Education is religiously literate and engaged young people who have the knowledge, understanding and skills – appropriate to their age and capacity – to reflect spiritually, and think ethically and theologically, and who are aware of the demands of religious commitment in everyday life.
Implementation of the new Religious Education Directory (September 2023-2026)
The new RED was published for implementation starting in September 2023.
We are fully compliant with this and have worked collaboratively as a trust to ensure that standards and consistency remain high across all five secondary schools.
During this transitional phase, we will be running a legacy curriculum for our current Year 8 and 9 students in 2023, whereas Year 7 will begin the new curriculum branches from September 2023. The curriculum learning journeys depict this below.
Legacy Curriculum (Students in Year 8 upwards)
This curriculum is a faithful expression of the legacy RECD.
New Overall Curriculum Learning Journey
Year 7 from September 2023 onwards
This curriculum is fully compliant with the newly published RED.
Overall Curriculum Learning Journey (From September 2023)
Curriculum Map - Overview
| Autumn HT1 | Autumn HT2 | Spring HT3 | Spring HT4 | Summer HT5 | Summer HT6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | 7.1 Creation and Covenant | 7.2 Prophecy and Promise | 7.3 Galilee to Jerusalem | 7.4 Desert to Garden | 7.5 To the ends of the earth | 7.6 Dialogue and Encounter |
| Year 8 | 8.1 Creation and the Environment | 8.2 Covenants | 8.3 Prophecy | 8.4 War and Peace | 8.5 Introduction to Islam | 8.6 The Church in Britain |
| Year 9 | 9.1 Mark’s Gospel | 9.2 Prayer and Pilgrimage | 9.3 Philosophy | 9.4 Ethics and Morality | 9.5 Religion and Society | 9.6 Suffering and Reconciliation |
| Year 10 | 10.3.1 Study of a Major World Faith: Judaism - Beliefs and Teachings | 10.3.2 Study of a Major World Faith: Judaism - Practices | 10.2.1 Applied Catholic Theology: Life and Death | 10.2.1 Applied Catholic Theology: Life and Death | 10.2.2 Applied Catholic Theology: Sin and Forgiveness | 10.2.2 Applied Catholic Theology: Sin and Forgiveness |
| Year 11 | 10.1.1 Foundational Catholic Theology: Origins and Meaning | 10.1.1 Foundational Catholic Theology: Origins and Meaning | 10.1.2 Foundational Catholic Theology: Good and Evil | 10.1.1 Foundational Catholic Theology: Good and Evil | REVISION |
Our curriculum is a faithful expression of the legacy RECD (Religious Education Curriculum Directory). This directory includes five Church documents, namely:
- Revelation: Dei Verbum
- The Church: Lumen Gentium
- Celebration: Sacrosanctum Concilium
- Life in Christ: Gaudium et Spes
- Overview of the Bible
Elements of each are identified in each year group, fulfilling Diocesan Inspection requirements.
Our Year 7 curriculum is a faithful expression of the 2023 RED and the documentation, including outcomes, reflects this.
For GCSE, we follow the Eduqas Route B GCSE course over two years.
Curriculum time allocated: 10% (all year groups across phases).
Specific Skills Development
- Research and Analysis
- Critical Thinking
- Interpretation
- Empathy
- Independent Thinking
- Extended Writing
- Problem Solving
- Communication
- Literacy
Next Steps
Upon completion of this two-year GCSE course, students will have the skills and experience to progress onto A-level and beyond. Many of our students go on to study Religious Studies at A Level. As many of the skills developed in our subject are transferable, they will also prove useful in vocational post-16 courses such as the armed services, the police service, social work and health professions, as well as religious vocations such as chaplaincy, priesthood or other religious orders. Many employers value GCSE Religious Studies due to the variety of skills the subject develops and the enriching respect for the individual.
Possible Future Careers
Future careers could include:
- Police Officer
- Youth Worker
- Nursing and Healthcare
- Doctor/Nurse
- Advertising/PR Executive
- Journalism
- Social Work
- Teacher
- Ministry
- Archivist
- Charity/Fundraising
- Civil Servant
Famous students of this subject include:
Charles Darwin, William Paley, C.S. Lewis.
Name: Mr Hughes
Role: Assistant Headteacher (Catholic Life and Aspiration) and Head of Religious Education
What made you want to be an RE teacher? I always wanted to teach RE in a Catholic school and help to shape the hearts and minds of our students. Teaching has enabled me to fuel my passion for educating and shaping the minds of our young people. It also allows me to impart not only academic knowledge but also moral and ethical values rooted in the Catholic tradition. On a day-to-day basis I have an unwavering commitment to the formation of our young people and influence how students perceive and engage with their faith. Teaching enables me to help pupils navigate questions about morality, ethics, and spirituality, ultimately contributing to their holistic development.
Favourite topic to teach: All of them! However, most notably, topics relating to forgiveness, ethics and morality. Exposing our young people to the beliefs, practices and experiences of others, including those from different world faiths, beliefs and traditions, or ‘no faith’, enriches the lives of our pupils and helps deepen their own faith experience and prepare them for the wider world.
Favourite Book: “Windswept and Interesting” – Billy Connolly
My own faith journey: I am a very proud Catholic. Throughout my teens, I enjoyed visiting key religious sites including Rome, Venice and, later, Israel and parts of the middle east. I enjoyed being an altar server and contributing to the music liturgy at St Patricks Parish in Stockton. My faith remains strong and I feel honoured to be in a position whereby I can share my experiences with others and provide opportunities to help our young people grow and flourish.
Name: Mrs Shields
Role: Deputy Headteacher and Teacher of RE
What made you want to be an RE teacher? I always wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember! I decided to pursue a career as a RE teacher because I have a deep passion for sharing spiritual knowledge and insights with others. I believe that education is a powerful tool that can foster understanding, compassion, and respect for diverse religious beliefs. Being a RE teacher allows me to guide pupils on their spiritual journeys, while also promoting tolerance and open-mindedness in our increasingly diverse world. Moreover, I find great joy and fulfillment in being able to inspire and empower our pupils to explore their own faith, ask meaningful questions, and develop a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives.
Favourite topic to teach: Anyone I've taught over the years will know how much I love to teach Philosophy! I especially love teaching the Problem of Evil with my GCSE classes. However, this year I have really enjoyed looking at the Big Bang Theory and religious responses with my amazing Year 11 pupils.
Favourite Book: “Wuthering Heights" by Emily Brontë... a true masterpiece!
My own faith journey: I am a very proud to be a product of outstanding Catholic education, attending a Catholic primary, secondary, 6th Form and University. I believe this shaped me as a young person to feel confident and comfortable sharing my faith.
However, my relationship with God truly flourished when I became a teacher and I delved into the rich traditions, prayers, and liturgies that Catholicism offers.
Throughout my journey, I have encountered both moments of doubt and profound spiritual growth. These challenges have helped me strengthen my faith and deepen my understanding of Catholic teachings.
Ultimately I believe our job as teachers is to give all our young people a chance to experience the love of Christ on a daily basis and to help form them into the person God has created them to be.
Name: Mrs Spoors
Role: Second in Religious Education
What made you want to be an RE teacher? I wanted to be a teacher from a very young age. When I went to secondary school this didn’t change, and in fact became a much stronger feeling. I felt as if teaching was my vocation. During secondary school I developed a love for RE which was the reason I continued to study it at college and university. My calling to teach and my love of RE combined meant that becoming a RE teacher was the perfect career for me; not only would I get to teach my favourite subject everyday but also, I would get to cultivate, inspire and nurture young people which I also felt and still do feel so passionately about.
Favourite topic to teach: My favourite topic to teach is anything which involves ethics and philosophy as these are the topics which involve the most discussion, dilemmas and real deep thinking.
Favourite Book: The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, Bliss by David Bentley Hart
My own faith journey: I was raised a Catholic receiving my Baptism and Holy Communion; more recently I have also been confirmed. God has always been a big part of my life, something that I have turned to in my happiest moments and something I have turned to in my worst. My belief in God has kept me grounded at many times in my life and I feel comforted in my belief that He has created me with a purpose and loves me endlessly. There are many Bible quotes that I have found inspiration in during my faith journey but one that has always stuck with me is “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths”.
Name: Mrs Parker
Role: Teacher of Religious Education
What made you want to be an RE teacher: When I was at school, I wasn't in the highest set for RE but my own RE teacher still inspired me and made lessons engaging and fun. I have always enjoyed thinking deeply about ethical issues and philosophy and wanted to bring this to my own students. My RE teacher always instilled the belief in me that I could achieve no matter what and it's this aspiration that I think is important to pass on to our students today.
Favourite topic to teach: My favourite topic to teach is philosophy as I love the way that our students respond. Hearing students discussing a philosophical question in the classroom and seeing that spill onto the yard during break time makes me feel a sense of joy and pride that our students really want to engage with the topics and deepen their understanding further.
Favourite book: my favourite book to read is the Fire Keepers Daughter, this book mixes tough topics such as crime, racism and death with cultural knowledge and brings awareness to the Native American culture.
My own faith journey: my own faith journey is a complicated one, I first thought about my own faith when I attended this school as a student, I was a big part of mission week, attended all the retreats and even went on pilgrimage twice to Taize. I started to go to church around this time alongside a family I met through the parish. When I went to college and university I went through some rough times and my own faith ended up being something that I did not think about much. When a job came up at Our Lady and St Bede, I knew this was where I had to teach, teaching here and being part of the Catholic Life of the school reignited my faith and I have recently received the sacraments of initiation becoming a Catholic myself. This was a very special time in my life becoming baptised and confirmed alongside our students.
Name: Miss Coates
Role: Teacher of Religious EducationWhat made you want to be an RE teacher: From being little, I have constantly thought about the big questions in life, and I have been so intrigued by them every single day. In school, RE straight away became my subject; I loved exploring different religions, thinking big questions, and debating huge topics of the world. After studying RE at school and then onto university, I knew I didn’t want to stop there! So, I decided to become an RE teacher and become the very person who kick started my love for the subject.
Favourite topic to teach: My favourite topic to teach is death and the afterlife, it is so interesting and makes you think hard! You can also get some fun debates going in the classroom and explore different opinions.
Favourite book: This was a really tough decision, but my favourite book has to be ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid, I could not put this book down! The twists and turns throughout I did not see coming, they left me speechless. I never wanted this book to end!
My own faith journey: Growing up in a Catholic household, meant that the idea of faith was something very individual and special, this idea has remained with me until today. Catholic education has guided me throughout my life and is something I never see myself leaving. It allows me every day to put my faith into action and allows me to be part of the most amazing community.
Name: Mr Allison
Role: Teacher of Religious Education
What made you want to be an RE teacher?: When studying for my A-Levels, I had a teacher who made it his mission for his students to love RE. His passion and enthusiasm every lesson was inspiring. Subsequently, this led me to study Philosophy & Theology at university and beyond. Since then, I have always wanted to inspire others to love RE just as much as I did when I was a student. So, what better to take on this challenge by becoming a teacher?
Favourite topic to teach: Philosophy and Ethics, Islam & Suffering and Reconciliation
Favourite Book: Too many to name, but recently I have enjoyed reading “A Theory of Justice” by John Rawls and “Gravity and Grace” by Simone Weil.
My own faith journey: From a young age, I have always been known to be a deep thinker. I often pondered at life's big questions and continue to do so every day. My curiosity eventually led me to explore my own feelings about God, religion and faith. And so, after attending numerous services in places of worship, alongside conversations with religious leaders, I became a Catholic in 2022 and I have been a practicing Catholic ever since.
Our pupils are also keen to model good practice, particularly at GCSE. The following videos were recorded by a Year 11 pupil to help model good practice when completing GCSE questions.
Video 1: Tips for achieving high marks in A questions (Key Words)
Video 2: Tips for achieving high marks in C questions (Explanation)
Offering a broad and balanced RE academic curriculum needs to be supplemented by a quality first enrichment offer to help engage and stretch our pupils as we prepare our pupils for their next steps. As a department, we are committed to offering a wide variety of trips and enrichment opportunities to engage and enthuse our young people. Here are a sample of the opportunities we currently offer to our pupils:
World Religions London Trip - Year 7
CAFOD 'Walk for Water'
Holocaust Memorial Exhibition 2023
Philosophy and Ethics Conference with Dr Peter Vardy 2023
Forgiveness, Justice and Peace Conference 2023
Philosophy and Ethics A-Level Taster EPRA evening 2023
