Departmental Intent:
Religious Education at St Antony’s invites pupils to explore life’s biggest questions through faith, belief, and lived experience. Guided by the Religious Education Directory (2023), our curriculum aims not only to inform pupils about faith but to transform the way they understand themselves, others, and the world around them.
The RE curriculum overview can be found here:
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At the heart of our curriculum are three golden threads that shape every unit of learning. Golden Threads are the key themes, values and skills that run throughout the curriculum across all year groups. In our school, these threads reflect our Catholic ethos and Catholic Social Teaching, supporting pupils’ academic development while encouraging them to make links between their learning, the wider world and their responsibilities as compassionate and thoughtful citizens.
Loading...Assessment in Religious Education
At St Antony's, assessment is an integral part of the Religious Education curriculum and is designed to help pupils know more, remember more and make sustained progress over time.
Our assessment model is closely aligned with the Religious Education Directory (RED) and our whole-school curriculum principles. Pupils are regularly assessed through a combination of:
- Retrieval practice and low-stakes quizzes
- Extended written responses
- Knowledge-based assessments
- GCSE-style examination questions
- Formal assessment points throughout the year
Assessment outcomes are used to identify strengths and gaps in learning and inform future teaching. Pupils receive clear feedback and are supported to improve their responses through structured reflection and dedicated improvement activities.
The department uses assessment data alongside departmental tracking systems to monitor progress and ensure that all pupils achieve their potential. Recent developments to assessment have contributed to rising assessment scores across the school and improved levels of literacy and engagement.
At Key Stage 4, assessment is closely linked to Eduqas Route B GCSE Religious Studies, enabling pupils to become familiar with examination requirements and develop confidence in applying their knowledge to increasingly challenging questions. The KS4 course specification for RE can be found here: https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/religious-studies-gcse/#tab_keydocuments
Standards and Achievement
Religious Education is a thriving and highly valued subject at St Antony's.
All pupils are taught by specialist RE teachers and benefit from a carefully sequenced curriculum that develops theological knowledge, religious literacy and critical thinking.
Recent developments have included:
- Full implementation of the RED curriculum at Key Stage 3
- Improved curriculum sequencing
- Enhanced literacy opportunities
- Consistent use of knowledge organisers and topic guides
- Increased opportunities for extended writing and challenge
- Targeted intervention for pupils requiring additional support
Internal assessment information demonstrates improving standards across the department, with increased confidence in applying knowledge and stronger performance in assessment tasks. Leaders regularly monitor pupil progress through departmental tracking systems and intervention programmes.
The RE department continues to work towards its ambition of becoming a leading department within the school, supported by a team of experienced specialist teachers, three of whom hold theology degrees.
Examples of pupil work demonstrate:
- Engagement with Scripture and theology
- Development of religious literacy
- Extended theological writing
- RED enquiry-based learning
- Moral and ethical evaluation
- Catholic Social Teaching projects
- GCSE examination responses
- Retrieval and knowledge organiser activities
Through carefully sequenced learning, pupils build upon prior knowledge and develop increasingly sophisticated understanding of faith, belief and morality. The quality of pupil work reflects our ambition to form young people who are religiously literate, ethically aware and ready to contribute positively to society and the wider Church.
Religious Education and the Religious Education Directory (RED)
The Religious Education curriculum at St Antony's is fully aligned with the Religious Education Directory (RED), the national framework for Religious Education in Catholic schools.
The RED curriculum enables pupils to:
- Explore Scripture and Tradition
- Develop religious literacy
- Engage with theological enquiry
- Reflect on the relationship between faith and life
Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is built around the new RED model and has been carefully sequenced to ensure that pupils develop secure knowledge and understanding over time.
Leaders work closely with the Diocese of Salford and participate in diocesan training and networks to ensure curriculum delivery remains faithful to diocesan expectations and current developments within Catholic education.
The implementation of RED has been a key priority following our previous Catholic Schools Inspection and has strengthened curriculum planning, sequencing and assessment.
Curriculum Time
Religious Education occupies a central place within the curriculum at St Antony's.
In line with the requirements of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, all pupils receive the full 10% curriculum allocation for Religious Education.
This commitment reflects our belief that Religious Education is a core academic subject and an essential element of our Catholic mission.
The RE department benefits from:
- Three dedicated RE classrooms
- A fully specialist teaching team
- Significant leadership support
- Ongoing curriculum development time
All pupils are taught by specialist teachers, ensuring high-quality subject expertise throughout Key Stages 3 and 4.
Enrichment Opportunities
Religious Education extends far beyond the classroom and plays a central role in the Catholic life of our school.
Pupils are provided with a wide range of enrichment opportunities including:
Chaplaincy and Leadership
- GIFT Team (Growing In Faith Together)
- Pupil-led prayer and liturgy
- Collective Worship leadership
- Chapel activities and prayer groups
Retreats and Spiritual Formation
- Year 7 Retreat Programme
- Welcome Mass
- Advent and Lent liturgies
- Stations of the Cross
- Rosary celebrations
- Ash Wednesday services
- Reconciliation opportunities
Service and Catholic Social Teaching
- Charity fundraising projects
- Caritas initiatives
- St Joseph's Penny Appeal
- Cornerstone and Macmillan fundraising
- Eco Group projects linked to Laudato Si'
- Visits to local care homes
- Community outreach activities
Through these experiences, pupils develop a deeper understanding of Catholic Social Teaching and are encouraged to put faith into action through service, leadership and care for others.
Bookflix is our reading incentive and is linked to rewards through achievement points and other prizes when children read specific numbers of books.
Bookflix displays are in every classroom, which gives teachers the opportunity to recommend books to read around each subject. Children should see which books are trending and newly added, just like the home screen on Netflix!
Here is the list of the current Bookflix books for the department:
The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe CS Lewis
Life of Pi Yann Martel
Sophie’s World Jostein Gaarder
A Very Large Expanse of Sea Mafi Tahereh
Heretics Anonymous Katie Henry
The Names They Gave Us Emery Lord
The Reluctant Fundamentalist Moshin Hamed
For any questions or queries (including the right to withdraw from RE lessons) please contact Mr Giblin on the following email address: p.giblin@st-antonys.com
