RE Curriculum Map

Our curriculum is built around the six thematic branches of RED:

• Creation and Covenant – exploring God as Creator and His promises to His people.

• Prophecy and Promise – reflecting on the Old Testament prophets and God’s promise of salvation.

• Galilee to Jerusalem – following Jesus’ life, ministry, and teaching.

• Desert to Garden – meditating on Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

• To the Ends of the Earth – encountering the birth of the Church and the mission of the apostles.

• Dialogue and Encounter – learning about other world faiths and building respect for all people.

Each branch is revisited throughout a child’s journey at St Edmund’s, allowing knowledge, skills, and faith to develop in a spiral of progression.

 [Download RE Curriculum Map below]

Skills and Knowledge Progression in Religious Education

At St Edmund’s, we follow the Religious Education Directory (RED 2023), which sets out a clear and ambitious progression of skills and knowledge from Nursery to Year 6.

Our progression is built around the six branches of study:

• Creation and Covenant

• Prophecy and Promise

• Galilee to Jerusalem

• Desert to Garden

• To the Ends of the Earth

• Dialogue and Encounter

Through these, pupils develop in three key areas of knowing:

• Understand – building secure theological knowledge of Scripture, belief, sacraments, and the life of the Church.

• Discern – interpreting, analysing, and making connections between faith, life, and the wider world.

• Respond – reflecting personally, applying Gospel values, and living out Catholic Social Teaching in action.

Progression is carefully sequenced across year groups so that:

• Early Years pupils retell and recognise key stories of Jesus and creation.

• Key Stage 1 pupils begin to describe religious actions, symbols, and stories of faith.

• Lower Key Stage 2 pupils explain how belief shapes life and make links across Scripture and tradition.

• Upper Key Stage 2 pupils evaluate and apply Catholic teaching, express reasoned views, and lead worship and social action.

[Download our full RE Skills and Knowledge Progression Document]

Curriculum Intent & Enrichment

Our intent is to provide a curriculum that is:

• Faith-centred: rooted in Scripture, Tradition, and the teachings of the Church.

• Engaging: enriched with drama, art, music, debate, ICT, and creative writing.

• Inclusive: respectful of diversity, encouraging dialogue with other world faiths.

• Challenging: enabling all pupils to achieve theological literacy, critical thinking, and a personal response of faith.

Enrichment opportunities include:

• School Masses and liturgies in partnership with our parish.

• Class saint projects and feast day celebrations.

• Visits to churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship.

• RE Creative Arts Week and inter-school competitions.

• Cross-curricular links with history, art, drama, and social action.

RE in Action

• Displays: Every classroom and corridor features RE displays that reflect the liturgical year and pupil learning.

• Work Samples: Pupils’ RE work includes essays, theological reflections, art, drama, and digital projects. QR codes in displays showcase drama and musical performances.

• Celebration of the Word: Weekly assemblies link the Gospel, our mission, and Catholic Social Teaching.

What We Learned in 2024

The 2024 baseline showed:

• Pupils enjoyed RE and felt they learned well

• Collective Worship and prayer were fully embedded

• Class saints were well understood

• CST understanding was emerging

• Creative learning and pupil leadership were areas for development

This gave us a strong foundation — and a clear direction.

What We Did in Response (2024–2026)

Following the 2024 findings, we:

• Strengthened RE teaching through more creative approaches

• Improved assessment and feedback

• Made CST more visible across the school

• Increased pupil leadership in Collective Worship

• Developed dedicated prayer spaces

• Deepened teaching about class saints

• Expanded opportunities for pupils to share their voice

These actions shaped the experience pupils reported in 2026.

Progress by 2026 

The 2026 pupil voice shows clear growth across RE and Catholic Life:

• High enjoyment of RE and strong engagement in lessons

• Greater confidence in explaining Bible stories and using RE vocabulary

• Clear understanding of what teachers expect in RE

• CST more deeply embedded, with pupils confidently naming and explaining key themes

• Collective Worship valued, with strong participation and increasing pupil leadership

• Prayer fully embedded as part of daily school life

• Charity and social action more visible, with pupils able to explain why it matters

• Creative learning recognised as helping pupils understand scripture and RE concepts

Impact on Our Catholic Community

Between 2024 and 2026, pupil voice shows:

• Stronger RE outcomes

• Greater confidence in scripture and vocabulary

• CST embedded in daily life

• Worship that is more reflective, reverent, and pupil-led

• Prayer life that is consistent and meaningful

• Pupils who can articulate what helps them learn and grow in faith

• A school culture where creativity, reverence, and Catholic identity flourish

St Edmund’s has grown in faith, understanding, and unity.