Religious Education
Religious Education Curriculum Intent
At Our Lady Mother of the Saviour we have a curriculum that keeps the Gospel Values at the centre of everything we do. Religious Education is at the heart of school life and reflects the teachings and values of the Catholic faith. Through Religious Education, pupils are supported to develop a deepening understanding of God’s love, the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the beliefs, practices and traditions of the Catholic Church. The curriculum is carefully sequenced so that pupils build religious knowledge and understanding progressively over time.
Teaching is based on The Vine and the Branches programme and is delivered through a thematic approach that is appropriate to pupils’ age and stage of development. Pupils are encouraged to reflect, ask questions and express their understanding thoughtfully and respectfully as their knowledge of faith develops. Religious Education recognises the important role of the school as part of the parish community. Pupils regularly take part in acts of worship and liturgical celebrations and are supported in their preparation for the sacraments as part of their faith journey.
Our Religious Education curriculum is inclusive and respectful, enabling pupils to develop an understanding of other faiths and worldviews while nurturing their own spiritual development. By the end of primary school, pupils will have developed a secure understanding of Catholic beliefs and practices, an awareness of other faith traditions and the ability to reflect meaningfully on questions of faith, meaning and purpose.
Religious Education Subject Overview
Religious Education follows the The Vine and the Branches programme, developed by the Shrewsbury Diocese. The curriculum is organised into a series of branches that are revisited each year. All year groups explore the same branch at the same point in the academic year, allowing pupils to build on prior learning and develop a deeper and more sophisticated understanding as they move through the school. This approach supports continuity, progression and coherence in Religious Education, ensuring that key beliefs, teachings and themes are revisited and explored in age-appropriate ways over time.
How Religion is Taught
Religious Education is taught as a discrete subject and is central to the life of the school. Teaching follows The Vine and the Branches programme, developed by the Shrewsbury Diocese, and is delivered through a thematic approach that supports progression and deepening understanding over time. The curriculum is organised around a shared structure, with all year groups exploring the same branch at the same point in the year. Each branch is revisited annually, with pupils developing their understanding in increasingly deeper and more challenging ways as they move through the school. This approach supports continuity, coherence and progression in religious knowledge and understanding.
Lessons are carefully sequenced to build pupils’ understanding of key beliefs, scripture, symbols and practices of the Catholic faith. Pupils are encouraged to reflect, ask questions and engage in meaningful discussion, allowing them to develop their ability to think deeply and express their understanding respectfully. Religious Education is closely linked to the prayer and liturgical life of the school. Pupils regularly participate in acts of worship, liturgical celebrations and seasonal events, helping them to make meaningful connections between classroom learning and lived faith.
Teaching also includes opportunities to learn about other faiths and worldviews, supporting pupils to develop respect, understanding and an awareness of diversity. In the early years, children begin to explore Religious Education through stories, talk, reflection and celebration. As pupils progress through the school, they develop increasing confidence in understanding, reflecting on and responding to religious ideas.
Adaptive Teaching
Our Religious Education curriculum is designed to be inclusive and accessible to all pupils, including those with SEND and those who may face barriers to learning. Adaptations are made through high-quality teaching so that all pupils can engage meaningfully with religious knowledge, reflection and discussion. Learning is supported through the use of artefacts, images and story-based approaches to help pupils explore beliefs, themes and ideas in concrete and accessible ways.
Abstract or complex religious ideas are carefully linked to real-life experiences, with opportunities for role play, drama and discussion used to support pupils in exploring themes and expressing their understanding. Written tasks may be shortened or scaffolded using sentence stems, and pupils may record their learning through drawing or verbal explanation where this supports access. Small-group discussion, pre-teaching of sensitive or unfamiliar content and regular retrieval and recap are used to reinforce key stories and concepts. Where needed, pupils are supported through quiet or sensory-friendly spaces for reflection, ensuring that all pupils can participate confidently and respectfully in Religious Education.
Impact
The impact of our Religious Education curriculum is that pupils develop a secure and progressively deeper understanding of the Catholic faith and its teachings, alongside respect and understanding for other faiths and worldviews. Pupils are able to talk about key beliefs, stories, symbols and practices of the Catholic Church using appropriate religious vocabulary. They demonstrate the ability to reflect thoughtfully, ask questions and express their understanding respectfully, making connections between faith, their own experiences and the wider world. By the end of primary school, pupils have developed a secure understanding of Catholic beliefs and traditions, an awareness of other faiths and the confidence to reflect on questions of faith, meaning and purpose. They are supported to live out Gospel values through their actions, relationships and contribution to school and parish life.
Religious Education Enrichment
Religious Education at Our Lady Mother of the Saviour is enriched through the lived faith of the school community and pupils’ active participation in prayer, worship and liturgy. Pupils are given regular opportunities to lead and contribute to acts of worship, including weekly whole-school gatherings in prayer and religious assemblies. Hymn practice forms part of the school’s worship life, supporting pupils in developing confidence, participation and a shared sense of faith. Pupils attend Mass as a school community on a half-termly basis and are involved in preparing and leading elements of liturgical celebrations. Parents are invited to join the school community in gathering in prayer on a termly basis, strengthening links between home, school and parish. In Year 3, pupils are given the opportunity to take part in the sacramental preparation programme for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. This enrichment supports pupils in deepening their understanding of the sacraments and their place within the life of the Church.