Religious Education in the Curriculum
Building the Kingdom
English
At the Rosary Catholic Primary School, we recognise language as a gift from God and a powerful tool for communication, reflection, and understanding. Through the study of high-quality texts, pupils are encouraged to develop empathy, critical thinking, and a deeper appreciation of diverse perspectives- values that reflect the Gospel message at the heart of our school. English provides opportunities for children to express their beliefs, explore moral themes, and use their voices with confidence and compassion, promoting truth, justice, and the common good. In doing so, we help pupils grow into kind, thoughtful individuals who use their God-given gifts to transform the world around them.
Maths
The fundamental purpose of Maths is the pursuit of truth. The thinking skills demanded by the Maths curriculum inspire and enable learners to be innovative, creative, critical and analytical. Exploring the beauty of mathematics enables our learners to engage with something bigger than ourselves - freeing learners to be forerunners, trailblazers and the inventors needed today and in our future. The real-world context comes first, and the theory comes second.
Science
Through science we recognise the world as God’s creation—a gift entrusted to us to explore, wonder at, and care for. Through scientific enquiry, children deepen their appreciation of the complexity, beauty, and order of creation, learning that we are stewards of the Earth with a responsibility to use our knowledge wisely. The Plymouth Science scheme supports this by encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, and respect for life, all rooted in the dignity of the human person and the call to care for our common home.
Physical Education
The teaching and learning of PE at The Rosary is rooted in Christian principles and beliefs nurturing personal and spiritual growth, respect for oneself and others, cultivating lifelong active lifestyles in children so that they may continue Christ’s mission and values on earth.
PE enables children to unleash their full potential, both spiritual and physical so they can surpass the limitations of their body. It provides a unique opportunity for children to recognise and appreciate the need for relationships based on trust and interdependence.
PE promotes the sanctity of life – the appreciation of the beauty, dignity and reverence of the human person made in the image and likeness of God. It unites communities and nations through competition and sport by fostering social interactions where people from diverse backgrounds can connect.
Physical activity nourishes the body and mind, honouring the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit. It ignites physical energy and strength so that children maintain the stamina to serve God and others more fully.
Inclusion in PE reflects the values of equality, fairness and opportunity; mirroring the heart of God who created us all in His image with purpose and belonging.
PSHRE (Personal, Social, Health and Relationships Education)
The PSHRE curriculum is rooted in the teaching that we are made in the image and likeness of God; it helps children to develop an understanding of the importance of valuing themselves as the basis for personal relationships. PSHRE lessons explore the individual’s relationship with others, building on the understanding that we have been created out of love and for love. Through PSHRE, children also explore their relationship with the wider world and how they are called to love others in the wider community through service, through dialogue and through working for the Common Good.
Phonics
Through Phonics, we aim to get our pupils to find the love of learning and become confident, proficient, empowered readers and spellers by the time they leave our school. We want pupils to Aspire, Believe, Achieve: Together in Christ.
We are using our God given talents to read and spell. The foundation of realising our dreams as God's children is the ability to decode words on a page.
We have a moral responsibility to teach every child to read in order for them to make a greater impact on the world around them, just like Jesus taught the scriptures throughout His life in the temple.
Geography
Essentially, Geography is about studying people; where we live and our relationship with the environment. We teach our children to have respect for the gift of the earth which has been bestowed upon us with the important message that we are stewards of the earth, not its masters. We expose our children to the glory of God’s creation, its beauty and awe.
Our children explore the people, cultures, places and environments of our world with the view that we are a global community, accountable for one another and with a responsibility to act for the common good of all. This is particularly important when we study climate change and its impact.
History
History encourages us to reflect upon the moral choices and decisions of the past and to gain an understanding of why people acted as they did. It provides us with the ability to make informed decisions about creating a better future rather than recreating the mistakes of the past. History gives our pupils an understanding of values in society and how to contribute to the greater good. Our children have the opportunity to study the consequences of people’s actions from the past (e.g. the outbreak of World War One), the courageous choices made by individuals for the good of others and society (e.g. the Suffragette movement), as well as debate the morality of events and decisions (e.g. the expansion of the British Empire in Victorian England). History teaches us that we do not live in isolation but that every decision and event has an impact on humanity.
Art and Design
This subject is a spiritual encounter, exposing the learner to a profound level of communication and expression which transcends the spoken word, it offers the artists and observer the opportunity to transcend the here and now. Through artistic expression the learner is enabled to comment on profound social issues and spiritual experiences offering a window into God's divine creation. Art, incorporating a wide variety of craft and design embodies some of the highest forms of human creativity.
Music
Music offers all learners a channel to discover their God-given talents. It allows learners to express their emotions, hopes, feelings, longings and dreams.
The universal language of music embodies and gives expression to one of the highest forms of creativity and communication. It allows learners to get in touch with their deeper emotions and feelings. Praise and worship through music and song enable us to feel closer to God.
Computing
The development of computational thinking and operation skills calls for the formation of learners who prioritise the importance of justice, equality, truth and the common good of all people at a global level.
Computing is used as incentive to reflect on importance of events in their own lives in the light of their learning. We use our gifts and talents to investigate various different platforms such as Microsoft and continuously improving our skill set for our future selves.
All staff model and teach our children how to use technology respectfully, positively, maturely, sensibly and safely through our policies and safety lessons.
The use of computing raises standards which supports teachers in improving lesson plans, transform teaching and learning and motivate pupils.
Children use a variety of different resources such as CDs, Youtube, TV, videos to research key influencers and transformational leaders at a local, national and global level.
