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Our Mission Statement, ‘Through Christ, we live, love and learn in our caring community’ is embraced by all members of our school community. Our children understand what it means and this mission is at the heart of everything we do.

The Religious Education provided in a Catholic School cannot be confined to teaching/learning specifically devoted to Religious Education. Our school seeks to ensure that the message and spirit of the Gospel permeates ALL aspects of school life, that it informs the approach to and treatment of the whole curriculum and that it is reflected and communicated in the love and care with which both staff and pupils are treated and treat each other.

Nevertheless, specific Religious Education is of central importance. “It leads children into an exploration of the different aspects of religion and thoughtful reflection upon religious belief.” (Curriculum Directory for Catholic Schools, 1996).

Our curriculum aims are

To provide at least 10% of teaching time to be set aside for the Religious Education of all pupils as required by the Bishops Conference.
To provide opportunities for daily collective worship.
To provide a caring, inspiring and creative environment.
To plan creative and stimulating lessons based on the Birmingham Diocese Curriculum directory which is inclusive for all.
To impart religious knowledge and understanding of:
- Beliefs, teachings and sources
- Celebration and ritual
- Social and moral practices and way of life.
Teach children to learn from religion by reflection on meaning by:
- Engagement with own and others beliefs and values
- Engagement with questions of meaning and purpose.
Develop the spiritual life of the pupil by
- Providing a Sacramental programme which is inclusive and in accordance with the rites of the Catholic Church
- Teaching and providing opportunities for Holy Mass and other Christian celebrations
- Providing times for prayer and teaching different mediums of prayer
To help children grow in faith by providing opportunities through celebration, prayer, learning and reflection.
To bring about the realisation of who we are, who we ought to be and the actions we ought to perform. (Moral Education).
To lead children to respect themselves and all others because we are all made in the image and likeness of God and know that everyone is redeemed through Christ Jesus.
To ensure the living out of the Gospel values which are linked in with the Commandments of Christ and his Church.
To teach children that their ministry in life is one mirrored by Christ – King Priest and Prophet.
- King – they have been given a special role in life to use and develop their talents to use for the Glory of God and his people.
- Priest – to live Holy and prayerful lives according to God’s Law.
- Prophet – to be witnesses to the Gospel and proclaim it to all.

Organisation

The Scheme adopted by St John Fisher Catholic School is the Diocesan curriculum strategy and has been adapted from the People of God. The Scheme provides progression throughout the School within the key areas of Revelation, Church, Celebration and Life in Christ. It also allows opportunities for monitoring and assessment. The Scheme is intended to link in with other curricular areas; it should be resourced by using Bibles, Missals, Veritas, ICT, Children of the Promise, Sacramental Programmes, multicultural resources and other resources appropriate to the Programme of Study.

Teaching and learning objectives of the Scheme are

to help children become more aware of and to reflect on their experience of living in the world with others (Experiential)
to reveal to the children some aspect of God’s plan for our salvation (Doctrinal)
to help them respond to God’s love in their lives (Moral)
to help them listen to and respond to God (Prayer)