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Religious Education Directory

RED Branches Overview

Religious Education

At St Monica’s Catholic Primary School, Hoxton, Religious Education is central to our Catholic mission and the life of our school. Through our RE curriculum, we nurture pupils’ faith, deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith, and encourage them to grow as compassionate, thoughtful and responsible members of our community.

We follow the Religious Education Directory (RED, 2023), the national programme of study for Religious Education in Catholic schools in England and Wales. Through a rich and progressive curriculum, pupils develop their knowledge of Scripture, Catholic tradition and the teachings of the Church, while being encouraged to ask questions, reflect deeply and encounter Christ through their learning. 


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.

 



‘ A good school provides a rounded education for the whole person.’

 

Pope Benedict XVI.



At St Monica’s religious education lessons are enhanced by the use of ICT, expressive arts, visits and visitors. R.E has cross curricular links with core and foundation subjects. These include Art, Literacy, History, Music and PSHE. Throughout our whole curriculum the impact of our religious education is clearly evident.

Skills and Knowledge Progression in Religious Education

 

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.

 

R.E Progression and Skills