Religious Education at Holy Family Primary School
Religious Education is the “core of the core curriculum” in a Catholic school (Pope St John Paul II). Through Religious Education, pupils study the Catholic tradition and come to an appropriate knowledge and understanding of the different religious dimensions of life. They are given the opportunity to examine their own religious attitudes and to respect the convictions of others. We teach tolerance and respect for other religions, traditions and cultures. Please see our British Values statement.
Religious Education is further enhanced and given expression through the liturgical life of the church by attendance and active participation in the Mass and the sacraments through the observance of religious services and festivals. At the beginning of each new term the whole school attend Mass led by our parish priest.
Through our carefully planned RE curriculum, we aim to guide our children to become religiously literate young people who have the knowledge, understanding and skills to think spiritually and theologically, and who are aware of the demands of religious commitment in our everyday lives.
Religious Education is a core subject in our school and is taught for at least 10% of the weekly timetable. This complies with the Requirements of the Bishops of England and Wales.
Religious Education Curriculum Directory 2025 = 'To know You more clearly'
In line with the Lancaster Diocese, all our classes deliver their Religious Education curriculum based on the new Religious Directory 'To know you more Clearly'. This is being supported in Year 1 and Year 3 by the 'Vine and Branches' Catholic Education publication. The new RED will be compulsory in all Catholic schools by September 2025. Staff are being supported by our parish priest, Father Stephen to understand the full expectations of how to deliver the RED. Father Stephen meets with staff every half term to discuss the next term's objectives.
All pupils are invited to encounter Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as the living person at the heart of their study in a way that respects their own individual religious identity.
Whole school overview of Curriculum RE can be found using link below:
If you would like more information about curriculum RE, please see our RE lead, Mrs Alison Dodd, who would be happy to help you.
Human Relationships and Sex Education
At Holy Family Primary School we are inspired by Jesus to be the very best we can be. We look after one another and show respect and love through our relationships with one another. We use the term Human Relationships and Sex Education (HRSE) as we believe that relationships education is about all aspects of growing a fulfilled and happy life; sexual education is a dimension of this greater whole.
Any teaching about love and sexual relationships in school must be rooted in this belief which is expressed in the Church’s teaching about relationships, marriage, sex and family life.
We encourage children from the earliest age to recognise that they are all children of God and that each person shares a God given dignity. As children mature, we encourage them to follow the example of Jesus and live lives inspired by the Gospel virtues, enabling them to follow His commandment to “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:31). This is the basis for all relationships in our school where we model Christian Virtues. We follow the guidance of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and ‘Fit for Mission? Schools’.
If you want to know more about Mary's Meals, please follow the link below:
