At St. Alban's Catholic Primary School, our mission is “Following in the footsteps of Jesus we love, live and learn together.” Religious Education is at the heart of everything we do. Through prayer, worship, service and learning, we nurture children to become confident, compassionate and faith-filled young people who know they are loved by God and are called to make a positive difference in the world.

We are proud to deliver the Discerning Disciples Religious Education Curriculum, developed by the Archdiocese of Birmingham in response to the new Religious Education Directory, To Know You More Clearly. The curriculum has been carefully designed to help children encounter Jesus Christ, deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith and develop the knowledge, skills and virtues needed to live as His disciples.

The curriculum follows the story of God's plan of salvation, enabling children to build their understanding year after year through six interconnected branches of learning. As children revisit these branches throughout their primary education, they develop an increasingly rich understanding of Scripture, Catholic teaching and the mission of the Church.

The Six Branches

🌍 Branch One – Creation and Covenant

“God created us in love and calls us into relationship with Him.”

Children begin by discovering that every person is uniquely created in the image and likeness of God. They explore the beauty and wonder of God's creation and learn that we have a responsibility to care for our world and one another.

Throughout this branch, children learn about:

• The Creation accounts in Genesis
• Adam and Eve
• God's Covenants with Noah, Abraham and Moses
• Human dignity
• Stewardship of creation
• Caring for God's world through Catholic Social Teaching

Children come to understand that they are part of God's family, called to care for His creation with love and respect.

⭐ Branch Two – Prophecy and Promise

“God is always faithful to His promises.”

This branch is explored during Advent as children prepare for the coming of Jesus. They discover how, throughout the Old Testament, God promised to send a Saviour and how the prophets helped people prepare for His coming. Children learn about Mary's faithful response to God at the Annunciation and reflect upon how they too can say “yes” to God in their own lives.

Children explore:

• The Old Testament prophets
• God's promises throughout Salvation History
• The Annunciation
• Advent – hope, preparation and trust in God's faithfulness

✨ Branch Three – Galilee to Jerusalem

“Jesus teaches us how to live as His disciples.”

Children journey alongside Jesus during His public ministry as He travels from Galilee towards Jerusalem. Through the Gospels, they explore the teachings, miracles and encounters that reveal God's love for all people, discovering how Jesus welcomed everyone, forgave others and showed compassion, justice and mercy.

Children learn about:

• Jesus' ministry and the calling of the disciples
• Miracles and parables
• The Kingdom of God
• Following Jesus today, in our own words and actions

✝️ Branch Four – Desert to Garden

“Jesus' Death and Resurrection bring hope and new life.”

During Lent and Easter, children reflect upon the most important events of the Christian faith. They journey with Jesus from the desert, through Holy Week, to the Garden of the Resurrection, learning about sacrifice, forgiveness, reconciliation and the incredible gift of eternal life made possible through Jesus' Resurrection.

Children explore:

• Lent – prayer, fasting and almsgiving
• Holy Week and the Last Supper
• The Passion of Christ
• Easter and the Resurrection

Through these experiences, children discover that hope always triumphs over despair and that God's love is stronger than death.

🌎 Branch Five – To the Ends of the Earth

“The Holy Spirit sends us out to share the Good News.”

Following the Resurrection, children discover how the Holy Spirit transformed the disciples at Pentecost and how the Church continues Jesus' mission today. They learn that every baptised person is called to live as a missionary disciple, sharing God's love through acts of kindness, justice and service.

Children explore:

• Pentecost and the Holy Spirit
• The Early Church
• Mission and evangelisation
• Catholic Social Teaching
• The life and mission of the Church today

🤝 Branch Six – Dialogue and Encounter

“We meet God through others.”

Children develop an understanding and appreciation of other faiths and worldviews while deepening their own Catholic identity. They learn that respectful dialogue, listening and friendship help us build peaceful communities where everyone is valued and respected.

Children explore:

• Other faith traditions
• Shared beliefs and values
• Human dignity, respect and understanding
• Diversity within God's family
• Working together for the common good

This branch encourages children to become thoughtful citizens who recognise Christ in every person.

How Children Learn

Throughout every branch, learning is explored through four Knowledge Lenses, helping children understand not only what Catholics believe, but how those beliefs are lived every day.

📖 Hear

Children encounter God's Word through Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Church.

✝ Believe

Children develop a secure understanding of Catholic beliefs, doctrine and tradition.

🎉 Celebrate

Children learn how Catholics celebrate their faith through prayer, liturgy and the Sacraments.

❤️ Live

Children are encouraged to put their faith into action by living out the Gospel values and Catholic Social Teaching in their daily lives.

The Ways of Knowing

The curriculum also develops three important ways of learning:

Understand

Children gain secure knowledge of Scripture, Catholic beliefs and traditions.

Discern

Children ask thoughtful questions, reflect deeply and consider how faith helps them make wise choices.

Respond

Children put their faith into action, responding through prayer, service, compassion and living as disciples of Jesus.

Religious Education in Practice

Religious Education is taught weekly in every class, with 10% of curriculum time dedicated to RE in line with the expectations of the Bishops of England and Wales. Children's learning is celebrated through class worship, displays and our RE floor books, and progress is assessed against the expectations of the Religious Education Directory, with regular opportunities for children to reflect on and respond to their learning.

We know that faith grows first in the home. Parents and carers are warmly invited to share in our class and whole-school liturgies, Masses and celebrations throughout the year, and each half term we share an overview of what your child is learning in RE so that conversations about faith can continue at home. Together with our parish, we work as one family of faith.

Our Mission at St. Alban's

At St. Alban's Catholic Primary School, Religious Education is much more than a lesson — it is woven through every aspect of school life. Through the Discerning Disciples curriculum, our children are inspired to know Christ more deeply, to love others generously and to recognise their unique place within God's family.

Working together with parents, our parish and the wider community, we seek to nurture children who are faith-filled, compassionate and courageous, equipped to make a positive difference in the world.

Together, we are helping our children to become Discerning Disciples — young people who know Jesus, love Jesus and follow Jesus, living out our mission of “Following in the footsteps of Jesus we love, live and learn together.”