INTENT
Our intention is that St Vincent’s School is a place where our relationships are based on the examples of Jesus through the Gospels; as a Catholic school, religion is not just another subject in the curriculum, but it is a way of life. It permeates all relationships and activities.
We recognise our call to serve and contribute to our local and Parish communities and to appreciate the broader multicultural/faith community in which St. Vincent’s School is situated.
Underlying our teaching and our relationships are the school values of Love, Forgiveness, Compassion, Curiosity, Resilience and Aspiration. The Gospel Values and Learning Attributes inspire these as we aim to educate the whole person. Thus, we focus on intellectual knowledge as well as include emotional and affective learning.
Through our worshipping, we celebrate God's presence in our lives. It is our loving response, in word and action, to God’s invitation to enter into relationship made possible through the work of Jesus Christ and the witness of the Holy Spirit.
The aim of our RE curriculum is for the children to grow in their own spirituality and faith, through their love for God and one another, their learning about and from God and their praise of God (for His creation).
Through their experiences in school, we aim to nurture an understanding that the children are part of a global community united through the values of the Gospel. We aim to provide an environment where the children will learn about the teachings of Jesus through careful study and immersion in scripture, which is our moral compass, guiding us on how to live out our faith in the world.
We develop children's knowledge of other faiths and cultures, giving them an understanding of the beliefs of others. Learning about the religion and cultures of those who do not share the Catholic faith is one of the ways in which we embody the call to love one’s neighbour. This in turn will improve social cohesion and contribute to the common good by increasing mutual respect.
IMPLEMENTATION
The Governors have agreed that the delivery of religious education at St Vincent’s will be in accordance with Diocesan Policy and is sustained through close links with the home and parish. We are following the ‘Way, the Truth and the Life' Religious Education Programme. This programme aims to encourage children’s awareness of the presence of God and to help them respond to that presence.
Our teaching of RE is reflected in the Catholic life of the school. Every day starts with prayer and reflection and these are at the heart of our learning. Collective Worship is another important part of the religious life of our family. During Collective Worship we pray together, sing hymns and reflect on aspects of our Faith within the context of our own experiences.
Prayer is an important part of our school life. In addition to our daily prayers at the beginning of the day, lunchtime and end of the day, children have the opportunity to initiate, compose and share their own prayers, responding to current affairs, national and international celebrations and disasters.
Through regular silent prayer, children experience a close and personal relationship with God. Our school Spiritual Leaders in Years’ 6 and 5 develop and lead prayers in school, supporting the work of younger pupils. Across our school buildings and wider site, we acknowledge our Catholic faith with displays and art.
We nurture independence in prayer and children lead collective worship in the different year groups. The “Ten Ten” scheme provides us with some Catholic resources to guide adults and children in leading prayer.
We work closely with our parish church of Our Lady Help of Christians. Our children attend Mass at least once every half term and on Holy Days of Obligation. Father Mario is an important figure who guides us in our Christian journey. He regularly visits our school to celebrate masses, to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation and for other key events in our journey of faith. Deacon Roger and Sister Josephine visit our school to celebrate Collective Worship on key dates of the liturgical calendar, for example Advent, Lent, Crowning of Mary, etc.