The Intent of the RE Curriculum at Holy Family

At Holy Family,  Religious Education is at the heart of the curriculum and central to our identity as a Catholic Community. Inspired by the teachings of Jesus Christ and rooted in the Catholic tradition, RE permeates every aspect of school life. It is not confined to the classroom but is lived out daily through our words, actions, relationships, and worship.

We provide our children with a religious education that encourages understanding of others and the world around them, providing opportunities for children to ask questions and learn about Christianity. We aim for religious education lessons and experiences to be unlike any other in school to create the opportunity for not only learning about the Catholic Faith, but also awe, wonder, reverence and spirituality in a creative way. 

We are committed to valuing and respecting every individual as being created special and unique, in the likeness and image of God. We learn about God's love and explore our Christian responsibilities, so our children can learn about their unique place within the home, school and parish community. 

We recognise that the home, school, and parish work together in the religious formation of our children. Parents are the first educators in faith, and their partnership is vital in nurturing each child’s spiritual development. Our school environment is intentionally shaped by a Catholic ethos that is tangible and life-giving, fostering a strong sense of community, reverence, and belonging.

We learn about and explore Catholic and Christian traditions, alongside traditions from other faith backgrounds, so we can develop an understanding and respect for all and the world around us. Visits and hands on experiences allow opportunities for children to explore and understand religions and their traditions and experience them for themselves.

Religious Education at our school is ultimately about seeking meaning and purpose in life. We teach that God is love and that this love is best understood through lived experience—through kindness, compassion, and service. We strive to create a school community where every child knows they are loved, valued, and called to grow in faith and friendship with God.

The Religious Education directory 

The Religious Education Directory (RED), To Know You More Clearly, provides the national framework for Religious Education in Catholic schools in England and Wales. It has been published by the Catholic Education Service on behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and sets out the expectations that Catholic schools are directed to follow. The RED outlines the purpose, structure and content of Religious Education, aiming to deepen pupils’ understanding of the Catholic faith while fostering respect for other religions and worldviews. It offers a structured programme of study through knowledge lenses, ways of knowing and curriculum branches, ensuring a coherent, progressive and theologically grounded approach to Religious Education within our school.