“To know you more clearly” Bishops Conference of England and Wales

Religious Education in Years 7-9 encourages students to engage deeply, empathetically and spiritually with ‘ultimate questions’ in life concerning the nature of belonging, origins and meaning in life, as well as religious and ethical beliefs and behaviour. As a core subject in the school, Religious Education contributes to 10% of the timetable and is primarily staffed by specialists who hold either degrees in Religious Education/Theology or who have completed/are in the process of completing, the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies. Additional staff are supported by the department in teaching RE with departmental resources available.

Religious Education at St Joseph’s is engaging and fun and the curriculum is devised in line with the RED requirements for Catholic Religious Education nationwide. Students learn both about and from religion and are encouraged to apply Biblical teachings to modern issues faced in society. Our curriculum caters for a diverse range of learning styles with plenty of varied and creative opportunities to showcase new knowledge, for example, playdoh model building and spirited art tasks. Oracy is also developed through formal class debates and small group ‘Discussion O’clock’ tasks during which students are encouraged to speak publicly and justify their viewpoints with reasoned arguments and evidence. We also develop oracy skills through ‘speak like a...’ assessments. Furthermore, students’ literacy skills are honed through our ‘Write like a…’ initiative in which students engage empathetically with the people/roles and teachings they have studied, for example chaplaincy in the military. Additionally, students also learn to work collaboratively and independently with a balance of independent and group work tasks where students can lead the learning.

At St. Joseph’s we endeavour to develop students both academically and spiritually. Students receive a wealth of opportunities to engage in sacramental preparation and collective worship, with at least one class Mass or liturgical prayer opportunity each term. Through this, they have the opportunity to work closely with our RE team which they thoroughly enjoy. We provide space for moral and spiritual reflection, for example, our Adoration sessions in the chapel. Students are also encouraged in RE to be active in their faith and to support charitable causes in the local community, for example, through our Hebburn Helps appeal and care parcels for the elderly, as well as international organisations like Samaritan’s Purse and the Christmas shoebox appeal.

We work closely with our Diocesan clergy and guest speakers to ensure that Religious Education at KS3 is an enriching experience. Fr Luke Wilkinson and Deacon Tony Joy have joined us for Q&A sessions about their roles and we have speakers to talk about personal faith and practice in Islam, Buddhism and Sikhism. Learning journey:

Each year we follow the six branches of the RED which are theologically rigorous, spiritually formative and engaging. This is a spiral curriculum and knowledge builds cumulatively around these themes each year.

· Creation and Covenant

· Prophecy and promise

· Galilee to Jerusalem

· Desert to Garden

· To the ends of the Earth

· Dialogue and Encounter

Students are assessed regularly in the form of Key Tasks. These are varied and devised in line with whole school policy and diocesan expectations. The tasks are consistent in format across the key stages and include a Trust wide focus on assessing whether students have ‘surface, deep or transfer’ knowledge and skills. At the end of each year students will also sit an end of year exam which examines content from across the year’s curriculum and helps build the necessary exam skills for their KS4 studies.