Our RE Curriculum
At St Michael’s, Religious Education is at the heart of our mission and identity as a Catholic school. Through our RE curriculum, we nurture children's faith, deepen their understanding of Jesus' teachings, and help them recognise their unique place within God's family.
We follow Source to Summit: Lighting the Path, a comprehensive programme designed to support the teaching of the Religious Education Directory (RED) from Reception to Year 6. Developed by a team of Catholic education experts and practising teachers, the programme provides a clear, engaging, and academically rigorous approach to Religious Education, rooted in Scripture and Church teaching.
Through Lighting the Path, children develop knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith while reflecting on how Gospel values guide their daily lives. Lessons encourage prayer, reflection, discussion, critical thinking, and creative responses, enabling pupils to grow spiritually, morally, and academically.
The curriculum is organised around the branches of the Religious Education Directory, helping children explore God's plan of salvation through Scripture and Tradition. Pupils develop their understanding of key biblical stories, the life and teachings of Jesus, the sacraments, the Church, and their role in building God's Kingdom. They are also encouraged to engage respectfully with other faiths and worldviews, fostering understanding, compassion, and dialogue.
By following Source to Summit: Lighting the Path, we aim to inspire every child to encounter Christ, deepen their relationship with God, and live out their faith with confidence, love, and a commitment to serving others.
Catholic Social Teaching (CST)
Alongside our RE lessons, we actively teach and promote Catholic Social Teaching, which encourages children to live out their faith through action, compassion, and responsibility. CST helps pupils understand how their choices can positively impact others and the world around them. It guides them in recognising the dignity of every person and encourages them to work for justice, fairness and the common good.
Through CST, children learn about key principles such as:
- Human Dignity – every person is made in the image of God.
- Solidarity – standing alongside others in friendship and support.
- The Common Good – working to ensure all people can flourish.
- Care for Creation – valuing and protecting God’s world.
- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable – putting those most in need first.
- Community and Participation – understanding that we all have a role to play in building God’s kingdom.
These values are woven throughout our curriculum, assemblies, charitable projects and daily life in school, helping pupils grow into thoughtful, compassionate young people who act with kindness and purpose.
To learn more about our approach to Religious Education, please explore the curriculum overviews and the syllabus provided below.
Overview of Foundation Stage and KS1 Syllabus
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery | God's Glorious Creation | Family and the Nativity | All About Jesus | Sorrow and Joy | Praying | God's Special House |
| Reception | 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 |
Overview of the Key Stage 2 Syllabus
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Life to the Full
Relationships, Sex and Health Education
In the academic year 2020/21, Relationships Education and Health Education became statutory in all primary schools in England. We are pleased to let you know that our school has decided to continue to adopt Life to the Full by Ten Ten Resources. Ten Ten is an award-winning Catholic educational organisation that is well-respected and very experienced in this field of work.
The Life to the Full programme is based on the structure of ‘A Model Catholic RSE Curriculum’ by the Catholic Education Service. This model curriculum was highlighted as a work of good practice by the Department of Education so we therefore have confidence that the programme will be fit for purpose in supporting the growth and development of your child.
Life to the Full is much more than a series of lessons. It is an entire platform of creative resources that will engage, inform and inspire our children and, indeed, you as parents. This includes interactive video content, story-based activities, employing a wide range of teaching tools, original worship music and an accompanying programme of classroom prayers.
Life to the Full is intended to be partnership between home, school and church. We know that you already do a fantastic job and we see our new programme, Life to the Full, as a means to further develop, support and enrich the partnership between home, school and church so that your child is fully supported.
Life to the Full: Parent and Carer Session
Introduction
This session introduces parents and carers to the programme, “Life to the Full”, which will be taking place in school. Through the session, parents and cares should be inspired by the vision of the programme, understand why it is taking place and why the school is working in partnership with Ten Ten, know where and how they can access further information about the programme content and, if appropriate, be consulted about Key Decisions in the programme.
Objectives
Parents and carers will:
- Understand why the programme is taking place;
- Be inspired by the vision of Life to the Full;
- Develop a broad understanding of the programme content;
- Know where they can access further information about the programme content
- Contribute to the discussion about Key Decisions.
Parent and Carers, please find below the Life to the Full information session and an information booklet about the programme.
Further information:
We would like to have your feedback on our approach, and particularly on the key decisions that we need to take regarding the teaching of certain topics. To this end, we have opened a consultation period during which we welcome your feedback.
Ten Ten have provided an online Parent Consultation Tool.
This is a simple-to-follow, short online course which:
- Outlines the statutory changes that will take place.
- Articulates a vision for Catholic Relationships and Health Education.
- Explains how Life to the Full aims to help us fulfil the statutory curriculum with a Catholic ethos.
- Provides some information about key decisions we need to make, in consultation with parents.
- Answers some Frequently Asked Questions.
In addition, there is an online parent platform so that you, as parent and carers, can engage with the teaching and deepen the experience for your child.
To access the online parent platform please visit using the log-in information sent to you via Arbour:
- Access the Parent Portal here:
www.tentenresources.co.uk/parent-portal/
Relationships, Sex and Health Education for Catholic primary schools questionnaire
After watching the 'Life to the Full' Parent/Carer session and reading the information available on the Parent Consultation Tool about the content of ‘Life to the Full’, can you complete the following questionnaire.
Click on the link provided: