Our Catholic Curriculum
RE Curriculum
10% of curriculum time across the school is dedicated to the teaching of RE which we teach from the guidance of the RE Curriculum Directory. We approach the Catholic Primary Religious Curriculum using 'The Way, The Truth and The Life' scheme which is supplemented by other sources recommended by the Diocese to ensure full coverage of the RE Curriculum Directory. The program compliments the Liturgical Year and enables children to explore and reflect on important events that we celebrate together as a Catholic community. The children learn through 6 core topics which all hold an underlying theme to ensure progression throughout the year groups. Through this program the children gain a rich understanding of Holy Scripture and a development of familiarity with Gospel stories and the importance of the Bible.
Children have the opportunity to learn about other religions through topics based on other faiths. At St John XXIII the children learn a great deal about Judaism, Islam, Sikhism and Hinduism. Guests from these religions are invited to share their experiences and artefacts of their faith with the whole school to help our pupils gain a thorough understanding of other religions. We have links with schools of other faiths, including a Muslim school in Leeds who we communicate with via Zoom to ask questions about their lives as young Muslims. They also learn from our pupils how they live out their lives as young Catholics of St John XXIII RC Primary School.
Children in Key Stage 2 also get an opportunity to visit other places of worship to find out more about these religions. This year our pupils have visited the Holland Park Synaogogue and Central Gudwara Khalsa Jatha in Holland Park.
Previous visits have included the London Central Mosque, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (also known as the ‘Neasden Temple’) and the Ealing Gudwara. .
The formal assessment of learning in RE is ongoing throughout every topic. Teachers assess the level of children’s understanding and attainment using the Diocese’s Age Related Standards which contain three core levels of understanding; Learning about Religion, Learning from Religion and Analysis and Evaluation.
All teaching staff within the school have attended training provided by The Westminster of Diocese to develop skills in furthering their faith and in delivering outstanding RE lessons.
The Catholic Life of Our School
The outstanding Catholic Life of the School enables the children, parents and staff of St John XXIII to fully understand their faith within the school and within the wider community. Children attend mass at Our Lady of Fatima Parish on special days throughout the Liturgical year, and to celebrate and end each term. KS2 children also visit St Aidan’s Church in East Acton. All classes have a special Class Saint and on Feast Days the classes attend Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Parish and hold a prayerful celebration of their Class Saint's achievements and life.