Religious Education
St Bede’s Catholic Primary School is a faith community rooted in Christ and closely affiliated with St Bede’s Catholic Church, part of the Archdiocese of Liverpool. Religious Education is central to the life and mission of our school and underpins all that we do.
Our Religious Education Curriculum
Religious Education is allocated 10% of curriculum time, in line with the requirements of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
We are currently in the process of implementing the Religious Education Directory (RED), “To Know You More Clearly”.
- Reception to Year 4 pupils are now taught using the RED curriculum.
- Year 5 and Year 6 continue to follow the Come and See programme during the transition period.
The RED is being rolled out systematically across the school, and whole-school curriculum maps will be updated once it is fully embedded in all year groups.
Standards in Religious Education at St Bede’s are high. Lessons are well planned and engaging, encouraging pupils to reflect deeply and grow in their understanding of faith. The Catholic life of the school is central to our mission, and pupils regularly participate in meaningful prayer and liturgy that is authentic, inclusive and spiritually enriching.
Our Mission: Love, Learn, Serve
At St Bede’s, our mission is to Love, Learn, Serve.
We encourage our children to:
- Show kindness, compassion and respect to others
- Develop a lifelong love of learning
- Use their gifts and talents to serve and support those around them
Guided by the teachings of Jesus, we aim to nurture confident, caring and responsible young people who are prepared to make a positive contribution to the world.
Being a Bede
Our mission is brought to life through our core values, known as “Being a Bede”, which guide daily life in school:
B – Behaviour: Showing kindness, respect and responsibility
E – Engagement: Being curious, motivated and enthusiastic learners
D – Devotion: Committing to our faith, our learning and supporting one another
E – Excellence: Striving to do our best in all that we do
By living out these values, our pupils grow into confident, caring and capable individuals who are ready to contribute positively to their community and beyond.
The Purpose of Religious Education
Religious Education is the core subject of a Catholic primary school. It engages pupils with life’s deepest questions and helps them to develop a sense of meaning, purpose and hope, as expressed in scripture:
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
1 Peter 3:15
Through Religious Education, pupils develop:
- Religious literacy
- The ability to reflect spiritually
- Ethical and theological thinking
- An understanding of religious commitment in everyday life
Curriculum Compliance
- To meet educational aims and statutory requirements, St Bede’s follows the Scheme of Work recommended by the Archdiocese of Liverpool, aligned with the Religious Education Directory:
- “To Know You More Clearly”
The model curriculum mandated by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
Sacramental Preparation
As part of our partnership with the parish, Year 4 pupils have the opportunity to prepare for and celebrate the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, supported by both the school and parish community.