At St Anne’s, Religious Education is at the heart of school life and reflects our Mission Statement:

“Each one of us is unique.
Each one of us is special.
Because we are created by God’s love.
May God’s love shine on our lives as we CARE and SHARE and LEARN together.”

Our RE curriculum helps children to understand that they are loved by God, created with dignity and value, and called to live out the Gospel through caring for others, sharing their gifts and learning more about their faith. In doing so, we support the mission of the Birmingham Diocesan Education Service to form young people as disciples of Christ who can make a positive difference in the world.

We follow Discerning Disciples, the Religious Education curriculum used across the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Created in line with the national Religious Education Directory, To Know You More Clearly, the curriculum enables pupils to develop a rich understanding of Catholic beliefs, scripture, prayer and tradition, while deepening their relationship with God.

What does it mean to be a Discerning Disciple?

A discerning disciple is someone who learns to recognise what is true, good and right, and who is increasingly able to make thoughtful and wise decisions in the light of faith, reason and lived experience.

From their earliest years, our children are encouraged to listen attentively to the Word of God, wonder at the beauty of creation, encounter Jesus through the Gospels and learn about the life and mission of the Church. As they progress through school, they develop the confidence to ask meaningful questions, make connections, consider different perspectives and understand how faith can shape the way we live.

Know, Discern and Respond

Central to the curriculum are three interconnected elements: Know, Discern and Respond.

Know ensures that children acquire secure and age-appropriate religious knowledge.

Discern encourages them to use that knowledge to think deeply, ask questions, make connections and develop thoughtful judgements.

Respond gives children opportunities to consider how their learning shapes their understanding, attitudes, choices and actions.

Pupils are therefore encouraged not simply to acquire religious knowledge, but to think deeply about what they learn, make connections, consider different perspectives and make thoughtful judgements. In doing so, religious education helps pupils to grow in knowledge, wisdom and understanding and to reflect on how what they learn might shape the way they live.

Every RE lesson incorporates these elements, ensuring that secure knowledge provides the foundation for meaningful discernment and thoughtful response. The curriculum places particular importance on children being able to remember and articulate the key knowledge they have been taught, before using this knowledge to think more deeply.

Faith in Action

Discerning Disciples recognises that Catholic education is concerned with both faith and life. Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, our children learn to recognise the dignity of every human person, care for creation, serve the common good and develop a hunger for justice.

They are encouraged to understand that faith should bear fruit in love: in the way we treat one another, the choices we make and the way we respond to the needs of our local and global communities. Learning about other faiths and religions also helps children to grow in understanding and respect, preparing them to participate positively in the diverse communities in which they live.

Learning is organised into six branches, which are studied every year and revisited in greater depth as children progress through the school:

 

Through these branches, pupils encounter the story of salvation, learn about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, and explore what it means to live as a faithful disciple today.

As their knowledge grows, children are encouraged to CARE, SHARE and LEARN together, living out our school mission in their daily lives and relationships.