Religious Education is at the core of our curriculum, allowing us to develop children’s religious literacy, knowledge and understanding of their faith.
We follow the ‘Come and See’ RE scheme of work.
‘Come and See’ is the response Jesus gave the disciples when they asked ‘Where do you live?’ (John 1:39)
The RE curriculum is therefore based on the truth revealed by God about ourselves, our life together and our ultimate destiny with God.
Our RE curriculum follows three themes, which are explored at different stages throughout the year. They include: Church, Sacrament and Christian Living.
Church
These themes take place each season time and each theme gradually on the children’s prior learning from the previous topic. Children will explore ‘Family’, ‘Local community’ and ‘Universal Church’ within this topic.
Sacrament
Children will learn about Baptism (KS1), Confirmation (KS2), Ordination (KS2) Marriage (KS2) and the Eucharist.
Christian Living
Children will learn about Advent (celebrating life), Lent and Easter (the cost of life) and Pentecost (feasts to celebrate).
At the heart of our RE curriculum are our ‘Big Questions’, which ultimately drive the learning of the topic. These questions remain open ended and challenging, providing children with opportunities to engage with the deepest questions of life, encouraging pupil collaboration, discussion and reflection. Children are exposed to the mystery of God, the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Church, lives of Saints and the relationship between faith and life.
St Ralph Sherwin
‘Today rather than tomorrow’
St Ralph Sherwin was born in Rodsley, Derbyshire, in 1550. He was educated at Eton College from 1563 to 1567 and was then a Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford.
He crossed to France on the pretext of studying medicine, but made for the English College at Douai, where he was ordained a priest by the Bishop of Cambrai on 23rd March 1577. He left France for the English College in Rome, where he stayed for nearly three years.
From Rome, he returned to London to minister to Catholic converts but was arrested in 1580 for the crime of priesthood. Queen Elizabeth I offered to make him a bishop if he would renounce the Catholic Church, but he refused. He endured torture, including the rack, before being charged with high treason for promoting Catholicism and sentenced to death.
Saints Ralph Sherwin, Edmund Campion SJ and Alexander Briant were executed in succession at Tyburn, London, on 1st December 1581.
They were among the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales who were canonised at St Peter’s, Rome, on 25th October 1970.
His individual feast day is celebrated on 1st December, the day of his martyrdom.
Prayer to Saint Ralph Sherwin
Most Holy Priest and Martyr, Saint Ralph Sherwin, you gave your whole life freely and earnestly,
forsaking all risk to yourself, seeking to do the Lord’s will “today rather than tomorrow”.
You died for love of Christ and his Church, as a witness to bring others to the truth.
Pray that we might follow the Lord more earnestly, with eyes fixed firmly on his Son, never putting off till tomorrow what can be done today.
Obtain for us the grace to share your courage and conviction, to live lives transformed by love of Jesus, following His call wherever it may lead, sharing Him with all whom we meet.
Amen
