Religious Education
Knowledge Organisers
Rationale of Religious Education
The primary purpose of Catholic Religious Education is to come to know and understand God’s revelation which is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. This revelation is known through the scriptures and the tradition of the Church as taught by the Magisterium. Religious Education helps the pupil to know and experience the meaning of this revelation in his or her own life and the life of the community which is the Church. Religious Education is a core subject in a Catholic school and is planned, taught, assessed and monitored with the same rigour as other core curriculum subjects.
The Aims of Religious Education
- To present a comprehensive content which engages pupils and is the basis of knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith;
- To enable pupils continually to deepen their religious and theological understanding and be able to communicate this effectively;
- To present an authentic vision of the Church’s moral and social teaching so that pupils can make a critique of the underlying trends in contemporary culture and society;
- To raise pupils’ awareness of the faith and traditions of other religious communities in order to respect and understand them;
- To develop the critical faculties of pupils so that they can relate their Catholic faith to daily life;
- To stimulate pupils’ imagination and provoke a desire for personal meaning as revealed in the truth of the Catholic faith;
- To enable pupils to relate the knowledge gained through Religious Education to their understanding of other subjects in the curriculum;
- To bring clarity to the relationship between faith and life, and between faith and culture.
New Religious Education Directory - 'To know you more clearly'.
Understanding the New Religious Education Directory
The new Religious Education Directory (RED), published by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, sets out a refreshed vision for how Religious Education (RE) is taught in Catholic schools today. It replaces the previous directory “Come and See” and provides updated guidance for all Catholic schools from Early Years to Sixth Form.
What is the Religious Education Directory?
The RED is the Church’s framework for what children and young people learn in RE lessons. It outlines:
- What pupils should know and understand about the Catholic faith.
- How they can reflect on their own beliefs and values.
- Ways to explore other world religions and worldviews with respect and curiosity.
Why has it changed?
The Church has updated the directory to:
- Ensure Religious Education remains relevant and engaging for pupils today.
- Reflect the latest educational research and Church teaching.
- Support pupils in developing a deeper relationship with God and an understanding of how faith shapes life in the modern world.
What will this mean for our pupils?
Children will continue to:
- Learn about Scripture, Sacraments, prayer, and Catholic social teaching.
- Develop critical thinking, compassion, and spiritual awareness.
- Study other religions and worldviews to promote understanding and respect.
Teachers will use new curriculum frameworks and resources guided by the RED to plan lessons that are:
- Rooted in the Catholic tradition.
- Connected to real-life experience.
- Designed to help pupils grow in faith, knowledge, and love.
Autumn
Creation and Covenant
Prophecy and Promise
Spring
From Galilee to Jerusalem
From Desert to Garden
Summer
To the Ends of the Earth
Dialogue and Encounter
As part of our RE learning, we also look at the faiths of Judaism and Sihkism, together with other events throughout the year such as Remembrance Day.
A Partnership with Parents
Parents are the first educators in faith, and the RED recognises this vital role. The school will continue to support you in nurturing your child’s spiritual development through:
- Class liturgies and prayer opportunities.
- Learning about saints, scripture, and the Church’s year.
- Shared events and celebrations of faith.
Class assemblies are normally held on a Thursday at 2.45pm in our school hall. Each class gets one (usually) per term.
All family members are welcome to come along and celebrate with us.
The Blackpool Family of Catholic Schools - Advent Service - 2nd December 2025
A group of Key Stage 2 children from our School Choir attended the annual Advent Service held this year at Christ the King Catholic Church. There were ten schools who came together to share key parts of the Gospel, telling the story of the lead up to Jesus' birth and beyond. Our school read from Luke 2:8-14, reflecting on when the angels appeared to the shepherds. They then sang a beautiful rendition of 'While Shepherds watch their flocks by night'.
The whole event was a wonderful celebration of Advent and Christmas and it was truly special to share it with so many other schools from our Catholic family. A huge well done to our pupils who represented the school excellently!
You can view a clip of the children singing on our Youtube channel, here: The Blackpool Family of Catholic Schools Advent Service
Little Way Week - 29th September 2025 - 3rd October 2025
This week, we are celebrating Little Way Week in school. This special week is inspired by St Therese of Lisieux who showed us how through faith, hope and love we can make a big difference in our world, no matter how small we may be.
In assembly this morning, the whole school learnt about St Therese and the importance of being kind to others. Kyra, our school kindness ambassador, is pictured here with kindness tokens. During Little Way Week, staff will be giving these tokens out to children who they can see showing kindness to others.
You can find out more about St Therese here:
https://missiontogether.org.uk/calendar/st-therese-of-lisieux/
BEBCMAT Shared Liturgy - 19th March 2025
In March, four of our Year 6 pupils went to Holy Family Primary School to take part in a shared liturgy with other children from five other primary schools across our Trust - The Blessed Edward Bamber Multi Academy Trust (BEBCMAT). Our Trust, which includes St Mary's Catholic High School, is now made up of 17 schools in total.
The shared liturgy morning was a wonderful opportunity to meet other children from within our Trust and work alongside them. The children took part in shared liturgy planning, which was a great chance to share knowledge, experiences and prayer. We also visited Holy Family's Church and celebrated mass together.
Our St Kentigern's children represented us brilliantly, showing reverence, respect and enthusiasm. We look forward to more opportunities in the future to collaborate with our Trust schools.
Pilgrims of Hope - Catholic Schools Lenten Service - 11th March 2025
On 11th March, we hosted 'Pilgrims of Hope' - the local Catholic Schools Lenten Service with students from St Mary's Catholic Academy, St Kentigern's, St Bernadette's, St Teresa's, St Cuthbert's, St John Vianney, Holy Family, Our Lady of the Assumption, Christ the King and St John's, Poulton. Each school prepared a focused reflection and shared this the congregation.
We take this opportunity to thank all the students involved for their reflections and songs and to all the school staff who supported them. In this Jubilee Year of Hope we pray together; Hope, perfect hope is the gift of Christ our Lord. Thus says the Lord will the world know my friends. Hope, perfect hope, is the gift of Christ our Lord.
Images of Jesus
Our most recent Section 48 Denominational RE Inspection Report can be found at the diocese website.
At St Kentigern's, we believe that children thrive when their learning is supported both at school and at home, guided by our shared Catholic values. Our partnership with parents is at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to keeping you informed and involved in your child’s education and spiritual growth.
Stay Connected
Through regular updates, newsletters, and parent meetings, you can stay up-to-date with what’s happening in the classroom, school events, and faith-based activities. This connection helps you understand the experiences shaping your child each day.
Support Your Child at Home
Your involvement at home reinforces the lessons learned at school. Simple activities such as discussing learning and practicing prayers or faith reflections strengthen both learning and character development.
Growing Together in Faith
By working in partnership with the Church, we aim to nurture your child’s spiritual life alongside their academic growth. Together, we can provide a consistent message of faith, values, and community support.
Wednesday Word Weekly Newsletters
https://wednesday-word.paperturn-view.com/mercy?pid=MTA101634&v=190.3
Ten Ten Monthly Newsletter
Celebration of the Word at St Kentigern’s Catholic Primary School
As a Catholic school, celebration of the Word is at the heart of life at St Kentigern’s Catholic Primary School.
Our aim is that, through the experience of the celebration of the Word, our school community comes together to worship and grow closer to God.
School Assemblies
The school gathers together every Monday for Worship, linked to the liturgical season and Sunday’s Gospel. These worship sessions allow us to listen the the teachings of the weekly Sunday Gospel and allow us to be closer to God and reflect on the Gospel teachings.
In addition to the whole school assembly, daily acts of worship are held by teachers and children. All acts of prayer and liturgy follow the format of Gather, Listen, Respond, and Send. Children engage with familiar hymns, prayers, scripture, and always observe the lighting of a candle, reminding us that Jesus is present as the Light of the World. Weekly hymn practice introduces children to new hymns, both traditional and contemporary, helping to develop their musical range.
Over the course of the year, each class prepares an assembly for parents, carers, and families. These assemblies focus on liturgical themes or current events, with an emphasis on worship and reverence to God. Children actively participate in selecting readings, writing prayers, and using drama, art, and music to communicate their message. Partner classes are invited to watch, allowing children to share God’s message across different age groups and pass on the Good News.
With the guidance of our Faith leaders from each class, classes join together to celebrate the Word together, this happens each term, allowing our older children support and guide our younger children in worship.
Staff Reflections
Every Friday the staff at St Kentigern’s end the week by coming together in prayer to give thanks to the Lord for the past week and seek guidance for week ahead. Each teacher leads this prayer on a rotating basis. This reverent act of worship allows staff to reflect, strengthening our identity as a Catholic community and reminding us of our mission to make Christ known to all.
Prayer in the Classroom and School Environment
At St Kentigern’s, we aim to help children value and respect the power of prayer. Each classroom has a prayer space and worship table, with colours reflecting the current liturgical season. Every room contains a Bible, cross, and candle, showing children that this is a sacred space.
Children are encouraged to prepare their own prayers and experience moments of peace and reflection, creating an atmosphere where the Word of God can reach them spiritually. The celebration of the Word takes place each morning across school. Daily prayers take place in the morning, at lunchtime, and at the end of the day. We also have a sacred area in school so children can worship at break or lunch times for individual prayer
Shared school Liturgy October 2025
Last Friday I had the pleasure of taking some of our children to St John’s Catholic Primary School in Poulton-le-Fylde as they hosted a shared liturgy morning with groups of children and staff from the following Catholic Blackpool primary
schools: Holy Family, Christ The King, St Bernadette, St Teresa and St John Vianney.
We were also joined by groups of older pupils and chaplains from St Mary’s Catholic Academy, Blackpool and Cardinal Allen Catholic High School, Fleetwood. In total, there were more than fifty children and staff in attendance.
The morning began with Mass at St John’s Church. The priest spoke of the importance of the children getting to know Jesus. The final hymn, “Shine Jesus Shine” was an excellent way to begin the next part of the morning. Following Mass, we all spent some time exploring the parish garden in the late September sunshine. The children then led bidding prayers around the statue of Mary.
The children enjoyed playtime together before gathering in the school hall. The primary school
children planned worships together in mixed school groups to take back to our own school. The children collaborated wonderfully and planned a range of thoughtful liturgies with themes including love, compassion and tolerance.
The morning ended with a liturgy on the theme of service This was a special moment and a lovely way to end a hugely successful and happy morning.
Two or more children from each class formally support the prayer life of the school and their classes.
These pupils help and contribute to weekly whole school worship, class worship and participation in Mass.
They are supported in their role by the RE Lead in formulating and responding to the prayer life and needs of the school and classes. Prayer leaders meet with the RE Lead on a weekly basis for these planning activities. All class worship ties in with the Liturgical year or the current RE theme.
Planning for class worship follows the same principles as whole school worship in that the prayer leaders use a structure of Gather, Hear the Word, Respond and Fulfil the Mission
Children volunteer and are also elected by their classes to these positions. Other children are also invited to support and participate in acts of worship and celebrating the Word.
Our Prayer Progression document is a guide that outlines the prayers and spiritual practices children are introduced to at each stage of their learning.
Purpose for Families
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Support Spiritual Growth at Home: By sharing this progression, parents and carers can reinforce prayer and reflection at home in age-appropriate ways.
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School and Home: Children experience the same prayers and practices in school and at home, creating a consistent foundation for faith formation.
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Celebrate Development: It helps families recognise and celebrate the spiritual milestones their child reaches throughout their school journey.
Ultimately, this document is a bridge between school and family, helping your child grow in faith, understanding, and prayer in a way that is meaningful and age-appropriate.
Catholic Social Teaching forms a key component of the school’s actions and curriculum. This is reflected in our teachings and themes across the year, and is also used to contextualise the actions we follow as a school.
In school we have Faith Leaders, who support our work in this area. They work with teachers and school leaders to act in a positive way to support Catholic Social Teaching and the school mission and virtues.
The seven key principles of Catholic Social Teaching we work with and how we treat and encourage children to treat others is by recognising the importance of:
Human Dignity: We believe every human person is made in the image and likeness of God. This is a gift that we all share as fellow human beings; we are all infinitely loved by our Creator. We believe God is present in every human person, regardless of religion, culture, nationality, orientation or economic standing. Each one of us is unique and beautiful. We are called to treat every person and every creature with loving respect.
Working towards the Common good: Children learn to contribute to society by working together for the well-being of the whole community.
Solidarity: This principle teaches that we are all part of one human family and need to stand with and support one another.
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable: Children are taught to recognize and reach out to those in need, understanding they may require extra help or support.
Rights and Responsibilities: Children learn that everyone has equal rights as a person because we are created in the image of God. These rights go beyond just equality and encourage children to recognise their responsibility to treat others fairly, to share and to look after each other so that we go beyond meeting each others basic needs.
Care for God’s Creation (Stewardship): Children learn to respect the earth and its resources as a gift from God, and that they have a responsibility to care for it.
Family and community: Children are encouraged to see themselves as part of a community that starts with their own families, extends to include the school, the wider local community and church and then beyond this to our global communities.
Through this they are encouraged to see themselves as part of one body that has an inter-relationship that needs to be nurtured and cared for.
How our school Faith Leaders support our school community to understand Catholic Social Teaching.
Everyday Actions: Children learn about CST through participating in daily activities like sharing, helping others, and being kind to everyone.
School Programs: CST is integrated into the RE curriculum using age-appropriate materials and resources.
Staff are have access to the Caritas programme on Catholic Social Teaching and this supports our ongoing provision.
Community Involvement: Part of the Faith Leaders role is to see themselves as leaders within our school community and through this reach beyond the school to support fundraising for agreed causes.
In addition, the school is active within the community through the arts and sports and to this end our children and staff are ambassadors within the community of the school’s virtues and values.
Discussion: Discussing how Jesus’s teachings connect to doing good deeds encourages children to reflect on their faith and how it calls them to act justly.