Curriculum
'Be kind and compassionate to one another.' Ephesians 4:32
RE Curriculum Statement
At Our Lady of Compassion, we teach Religious Education through the programme ‘To Know You More Clearly.’
Guided by our mission statement, “Be kind and compassionate to one another” (Ephesians 4:32), our RE curriculum is carefully designed to meet the needs of every child. We aim to motivate and inspire pupils through an engaging and meaningful journey of faith that challenges all learners and leads to excellence.
Through To Know You More Clearly, pupils explore the mystery of faith through Scripture and Tradition. Throughout their time at school, children also learn about other faiths and religions, fostering respect, understanding and dialogue.
The approach chosen at Our Lady of Compassion, encompasses a variety of teaching and learning styles, which enable the needs of individual pupils to be met though a broad and balanced, cross-curricular, creative lessons.
Knowledge Lenses – set out the object of study for pupils, they indicate what should be known by the end of each age phase:
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Catholic Christianity: Hear, Believe, Celebrate, Live
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Other Religions and Worldviews: Dialogue, Encounter
Ways of Knowing
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Understand (I know what Christians believe) – acquire and organise theological knowledge
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Discern (I can explain why they believe it) – interpret, analyse and make connections
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Respond (I can say how this might change how people live) – evaluate, apply and live out learning
Religious Education is an integral part of our daily school life and fulfils all legal requirements.
Please see our RE Policy for further information about our aims and objectives. Our termly RE newsletters keep families informed about the themes studied each term, suggest activities to support learning at home, and share important information about RE and key feast days.
At Our Lady of Compassion, we are proud to have strong links with ‘Our Lady’s’ Church
and we work closely with Father John, our parish priest.
To Know You More Clearly
Since September 2023, we have been gradually introducing the ‘To Know You More Clearly’ programme from the new Religious Education Directory (RED), as set out by the Archdiocese of Liverpool. We chose to begin using the programme as it was rolled out across the Archdiocese, ensuring our curriculum remains current, meaningful and firmly rooted in the life of the Church.
All year groups are now accessing To Know You More Clearly. Although Years 5 and 6 have not yet received full diocesan training, they have been supported through ongoing guidance and feedback from our RE subject leaders. They also have access to the RED, which enables them to plan and develop their teaching in line with the rest of the school and the expectations of the programme.
While the programme is currently optional, it will soon become compulsory for all year groups. Beginning the journey early has allowed us to embed it thoughtfully and confidently across our school community.
Curriculum Overview
Our Religious Education curriculum follows a spiral structure, enabling pupils to revisit and deepen their understanding of key theological themes from EYFS to Year 6. Each half term focuses on one of the six branches of the Religious Education Directory:
Autumn 1 – Creation and Covenant
God as Creator; the dignity of the human person; Creation in Genesis alongside scientific understanding; God’s covenant with His people through Abraham, Moses and the Old Testament.
Autumn 2 – Prophecy and Promise
The prophets calling people back to God; God’s promise of a Messiah; Advent as a time of waiting; the Nativity and the mystery of the Incarnation.
Spring 1 – Galilee to Jerusalem
The life and ministry of Jesus; parables, miracles and teachings; the Kingdom of God; the call to discipleship.
Spring 2 – Desert to Garden
Lent and spiritual preparation; Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum; the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus; the journey from darkness to light.
Summer 1 – To the Ends of the Earth
The Resurrection and Ascension; the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost; the work of the apostles; the Church as apostolic and missionary.
Summer 2 – Dialogue and Encounter
Engagement with other religions and worldviews; respect for human dignity; intercultural dialogue; working together for the common good.
