At St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, Religious Education is central to our mission and identity as a Catholic school. Rooted in the Religious Education Directory To Know You More Clearly, our RE curriculum enables pupils to grow in knowledge, faith and understanding, while supporting their spiritual, moral and personal development.
We aim for all pupils to:
Develop a secure and progressive understanding of Catholic beliefs and teachings
Encounter Jesus Christ through Scripture, prayer and reflection
Make links between faith and everyday life
Respect and engage thoughtfully with people of different faiths and worldviews
Live out Gospel values such as love, justice, forgiveness and service
Religious Education at St Anne’s is delivered through The Vine and the Branches scheme of work, which is fully aligned with the Religious Education Directory and diocesan guidance. This scheme provides a clear, structured and progressive curriculum that is taught across the school from EYFS to Year 6.
The curriculum is organised into six branches, taught across the six half-terms of each academic year. These branches are revisited annually, allowing pupils to deepen their understanding as knowledge is built progressively over time. Learning is rooted in the narrative of salvation history, helping pupils to see how individual units connect to the wider story of God’s relationship with humanity.
Teaching follows the knowledge lenses of Hear, Believe, Celebrate, Live, Dialogue and Encounter, ensuring that pupils:
Learn from Scripture and Revelation
Understand Catholic beliefs and doctrine
Explore prayer, liturgy and the sacraments
Apply faith to moral choices and daily life
Engage respectfully in dialogue with others
Religious Education is taught for at least 10% of curriculum time, reflecting its status as the core of the core curriculum. Lessons are carefully planned to include opportunities for discussion, reflection, theological vocabulary, and personal response, supporting pupils of all abilities to engage meaningfully with their learning.
Prayer and worship are an integral part of the implementation of Religious Education. The school follows a structured Annual Plan of Provision (APOP) for Prayer and Liturgy, which ensures that all pupils experience high-quality, progressive opportunities for prayer and worship throughout the year. This includes:
Daily class prayer
Weekly Celebration of the Word
Whole-school liturgies linked to the liturgical year
Progressive teaching of prayer forms, responses and liturgical language
Opportunities for pupils to plan and lead prayer as they grow in confidence
Clear progression within the APOP ensures that pupils develop increasing independence, reverence and understanding in prayer and worship as they move through the school.
As a result of our Religious Education provision, pupils at St Anne’s:
Develop strong religious knowledge and understanding
Use age-appropriate theological language confidently
Participate reverently and confidently in prayer and worship
Make meaningful links between faith, behaviour and daily life
Show respect, compassion and understanding towards others
Are prepared to engage thoughtfully with different beliefs and worldviews
Our pupils leave St Anne’s as confident, reflective and caring individuals, formed by Gospel values and ready to continue their journey of faith and learning.
The Vine and the Branches at St. Anne's
At St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, Religious Education is taught through The Vine and the Branches scheme of work. This programme is based on the Religious Education Directory for Catholic schools, To Know You More Clearly, and ensures high-quality teaching and learning that is equal in importance to all other areas of the curriculum. It is delivered in accordance with the guidance of the Diocese of Shrewsbury.
The Vine and the Branches is structured around the story of salvation history and provides a clear and progressive learning journey for pupils as they move through the school. The curriculum is organised into six branches, taught across the six half-terms of each academic year. By revisiting each branch annually, pupils develop a deeper understanding of Catholic beliefs and practices and are encouraged to make meaningful links in their learning.
The six curriculum branches are:
Creation and Covenant
Prophecy and Promise
Galilee to Jerusalem
Desert to Garden
To the Ends of the Earth
Dialogue and Encounter
Year Group | Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EYFS | Creation and Covenant | Prophecy and Promise | Galilee to Jerusalem | Desert to Garden | To the Ends of the Earth | Dialogue and Encounter |
Year 1 | Creation and Covenant | Prophecy and Promise | Galilee to Jerusalem | Desert to Garden | To the Ends of the Earth | Dialogue and Encounter |
Year 2 | Creation and Covenant | Prophecy and Promise | Galilee to Jerusalem | Desert to Garden | To the Ends of the Earth | Dialogue and Encounter |
Year 3 | Creation and Covenant | Prophecy and Promise | Galilee to Jerusalem | Desert to Garden | To the Ends of the Earth | Dialogue and Encounter |
Year 4 | Creation and Covenant | Prophecy and Promise | Galilee to Jerusalem | Desert to Garden | To the Ends of the Earth | Dialogue and Encounter |
Year 5 | Creation and Covenant | Prophecy and Promise | Galilee to Jerusalem | Desert to Garden | To the Ends of the Earth | Dialogue and Encounter |
Year 6 | Creation and Covenant | Prophecy and Promise | Galilee to Jerusalem | Desert to Garden | To the Ends of the Earth | Dialogue and Encounter |
Each branch is revisited annually, allowing pupils to deepen their understanding as learning is developed progressively in line with their age and stage. The content is rooted in the narrative of salvation history and supports pupils in making meaningful links between belief, scripture, liturgy, and lived faith.