Religious Education

At St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School, Religious Education is at the heart of our Catholic life. We want every child to grow in faith, develop a deep understanding of the Catholic tradition and discover how God’s love can shape the way we live our lives.

We follow The Vine and the Branches, the Religious Education curriculum used across the Diocese of Shrewsbury. It is based on the Religious Education Directory, To Know You More Clearly, and provides a carefully planned journey of learning from Reception to Year 6.

The curriculum helps children to know Jesus Christ through Scripture, prayer, the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church and the lives of people who have lived out their faith.

What do children learn?

The Vine and the Branches is organised into six branches. These are revisited throughout a child's time at primary school, with learning becoming deeper and more detailed as children grow.

The six branches are:

• Creation and Covenant – exploring God's creation and his loving relationship with his people.

• Prophecy and Promise – learning about God's promises and the prophets who prepared God's people for the coming of Jesus.

• Galilee to Jerusalem – discovering the life, teachings, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus.

• Desert to Garden – exploring the journey from Jesus' Passion and death to the joy of the Resurrection and the new life offered through Christ.

• To the Ends of the Earth – learning about the Holy Spirit, the Church and the mission of Christians to share the Good News.

• Dialogue and Encounter – developing understanding and respect through learning about other Christian traditions, religions and worldviews.

Through these themes, children develop their knowledge of Scripture and the Catholic faith while learning to ask questions, reflect, make connections and consider how faith influences the way people live.

Learning that grows with your child

The Vine and the Branches is designed so that important ideas are revisited as children move through the school. This means that children build on what they already know rather than learning topics in isolation.

As they progress through the school, pupils develop a growing understanding of:

Scripture and the story of God's people
the life and teachings of Jesus
prayer and worship
the Sacraments
the liturgical year
the Church and its mission
Catholic beliefs and traditions
Catholic Social Teaching
the lives of saints and other people of faith
other Christian traditions, religions and worldviews.

We encourage children to wonder, question and reflect. Religious Education is not simply about learning facts; it is about developing knowledge and understanding that can help children make sense of their faith and the world around them.

Faith in action

Religious Education is closely connected to our Catholic life. What children learn in the classroom is brought to life through prayer, worship, Mass, celebrations and opportunities to serve others.

Our children are encouraged to put their faith into action by showing kindness, caring for others, working for justice and looking after God's creation.

We want them to understand that being a follower of Jesus means more than knowing about him. It means allowing his example to influence how we treat others and how we live our lives.

Working together with families

Parents and families have an important role in their child's faith journey. We encourage families to talk about what children are learning in RE, share prayers and Scripture together and celebrate the Church's seasons and special celebrations at home.

We hope that The Vine and the Branches will help children and families to grow together in faith, understanding and love.

Above all, our Religious Education curriculum helps children to know that they are loved by God, that they are part of a wider Church family and that they each have a unique part to play.

We want every child to grow in faith, flourish as an individual and have the confidence to “Let Your Light Shine”.

Knowledge and skills are built on from previous years and there is clear progression in each subject. You can see an overview of progression below:

RE Long Term Plan

Progression Grid

Progression of Prayer and liturgy

Progression of Being a Christian

Progression of Annunciation to Incarnation

Progression of Covenant (Noah, Abraham and Moses)

Progression of Creation and Stewardship

Progression of Infancy Narratives

Progression of Miracle Stories

Progression of Parables