Religious Education Assessment at St Edmund’s

At St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School, Religious Education is a core subject and lies at the heart of our Catholic life and mission.
Our assessment approach ensures that every child makes progress in their theological understanding, their ability to think critically and discern, and their capacity to respond personally in faith.

We follow the Diocese of Westminster’s RED model curriculum and use the national Religious Education Directory (2023) learning outcomes. Children are assessed through the three key “Ways of Knowing”:

• Understand — knowledge of Scripture, doctrine, and key beliefs.

• Discern — interpretation, reflection, and moral reasoning.

• Respond — personal faith response (celebrated but not graded).

Teachers use ongoing formative assessment, indicative tasks, pupil voice, and half-termly summative assessments to track progress using Insight. Work is regularly moderated to ensure consistency and high standards. Each year group has clear age-related expectations, allowing us to recognise and support every child’s spiritual and academic development.

This policy shows our commitment to delivering high-quality Religious Education that nurtures faith, deepens understanding, and meets the expectations of the Catholic Schools Inspectorate framework.

RE Assessment – At a Glance

• Core Subject: RE taught for 10% of curriculum time.

• Framework: Based on To Know You More Clearly (Diocese of Westminster, RED 2023).

• Assessment Focus: Understand + Discern (academic); Respond encouraged but not assessed.

• Tracking: Insight system used to monitor progress across year groups.

• Evidence: Pupil books, floor books, portfolios, and pupil voice.

• Quality Assurance: Regular in-school and diocesan moderation.

Catholic Life & Mission at St Edmund’s – Snapshot

At St Edmund’s, Catholic Life and Mission are at the heart of everything we do.

• Prayer & Worship: Each day begins and ends with prayer. Weekly worship includes whole-school and class Celebrations of the Word, hymn practice, and our Spirit Assembly. Masses and Feast Day liturgies are celebrated regularly.

• Prayer Progression: From EYFS to Year 6, pupils learn core prayers by heart, experience scripture-based prayer (Lectio Divina), meditative prayer (Examen, silence, Adoration), seasonal devotions (Rosary, Stations, Angelus), and grow in confidence leading worship.

• Catholic Social Teaching: Pupils live out the Gospel through charitable works, fundraising, eco projects, and community outreach, guided by the principles of dignity, solidarity, and care for creation.

• Mission in Action: Our pupils are supported to be witnesses to Christ in school, parish and community, taking active roles in service and leadership.

This ensures Catholic Life at St Edmund’s is joyful, visible and rooted in faith, helping every pupil grow closer to Christ.

Prayer and Liturgy at St Edmund’s – Snapshot

At St Edmund’s, prayer and liturgy are at the heart of our daily life.

• Daily: Each class prays together every morning, before meals and at the end of the day.

• Weekly:

  • Whole-school Celebration of the Word (linked to Sunday’s Gospel)

  • Hymn/Catholic Choir Assembly

  • Class Celebrations of the Word (pupil-led)

  • Spirit Assembly celebrating Gospel values and Catholic Social Teaching

• Liturgical Life: Regular Masses, Feast Day celebrations, seasonal devotions (Advent wreath, Rosary, Stations of the Cross, May devotions, Pentecost), and use of our Prayer Garden.

• Prayer Progression: Pupils learn traditional prayers by heart, engage in scripture-based prayer (Lectio Divina), meditative prayer (Examen, Adoration, silence), and lead worship through Celebrations of the Word.

• Pupil Leadership: By Year 6, children confidently plan and lead worship for their class and younger pupils, becoming Prayer Leaders and Chaplains.

Prayer and liturgy at St Edmund’s are inclusive, joyful, and rooted in the life of the Church, helping every pupil to encounter Christ and grow in faith.

RE Policy Snapshot (2025/26)

• Framework: RE is taught for 10% of curriculum time, in line with the Religious Education Directory (2023 – To Know You More Clearly).

• Curriculum: Structured around the six Branches – Creation & Covenant, Prophecy & Promise, Galilee to Jerusalem, Desert to Garden, To the Ends of the Earth, Dialogue & Encounter.

• Aims: Build religious literacy; enable pupils to Understand (knowledge) and Discern (interpret, evaluate); encourage Respond through prayer and worship (not assessed); develop respect for other faiths.

• Prayer & Worship:

  • Daily: Morning, Grace before Meals, Afternoon Prayer.

  • Weekly: Whole-school Celebration of the Word, Hymn/Catholic Choir Assembly, Class Celebrations of the Word (pupil-led), Spirit Assembly.

  • Regular Masses, Feast Days and seasonal devotions.

• Assessment:

  • Pupils assessed against diocesan AREs in Understand and Discern.

  • Respond encouraged but not assessed.

  • Insight used for half-termly tracking.

  • One indicative task per Branch, moderated termly.

• Prayer Progression: Pupils learn core prayers by heart (Sign of the Cross in EYFS to the Creed, Rosary and litanies in KS2). They experience scripture-based prayer (Lectio Divina), meditative prayer (Examen, Adoration, silence), devotions, and pupil-led Celebrations of the Word.

• Monitoring & Inclusion: RE is monitored through lesson observations, book scrutiny and pupil voice. Governors receive regular reports. SEND adaptations are made where appropriate.