School Religious Education Policy
(edited January 2023)
1 - Vision, Aims and Objectives
Religious education at St Thomas Aquinas school is an opportunity for learners to engage and reflect on the religious dimension of life, so that they are affirmed in their own religious identity, while coming to appreciate the religious diversity of the society in which they live – especially the main faiths of children within our school. Teachers and learners who join the school, do so on the understanding that they will respect the distinctive Catholic character of the school and our RE Policy.
Formal Religious Education classes are attended by all learners in order to help them:
- develop an awareness of moral and spiritual awareness
- to have respect for other people’s views and to celebrate religious diversity
- learn from religions as well as about religion
- to reflect on their own experiences and to develop a response to the fundamental questions of life
- develop knowledge and understanding of religious traditions
- to develop skills which assist them to make reasoned judgements about religious issues
2 - Context and Guiding Values
The policy is driven by the fact that diversity is a fact of our national life and we take into account the emphasis of the national education curriculum and the constitutional rights, which promote the core values of a democratic society. These include: equity, justice, tolerance, accountability and openness. In addition, we take into account the thinking of the Catholic School network and the tradition of St Dominic and our founding King Williams Town Dominican Sisters. Thus there is an emphasis on the Gospel values of sharing, co-operation, human solidarity, truth and service to others. Furthermore, at no time may the Catholic ethos of the school and the teaching of the Christian Gospel be compromised by the presence of learners of other faiths.
3 - MISSION:
Saint Thomas Aquinas participates in cultural activities for recreation and enjoyment. We also want to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn about, enjoy, and participate directly in the Arts. Years of research show that a child’s involvement in the Arts is closely linked to their academic achievement, social and emotional development. We promote the Arts not only for these reasons but also for the intrinsic pleasures and stimulation of the Arts experience; it does more than sweeten an individual’s life.
School Religious Education Policy
3 - Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Style
We plan our curriculum in accordance with the ‘Lifebound’ RE programme in the primary school and the ‘CORD’ RE programme in the high school. The schemes of work offer an increasing challenge according to the age of the learner and formal lesson plans are completed.
We base our teaching and learning styles on the principle that RE allows our young people to learn about and reflect on their own religious traditions and encourage them to incorporate their own perspectives, views and beliefs into the themes being discussed in the classroom. This may include: discussing religious and moral issues; preparing of presentations for assemblies and inviting groups and individuals to come into the school and talk to the learners.
Sometimes Religious Education may have a cross-curricular impact as it promotes skills such as reading, writing, listening and speaking and also encourages conversations that may be linked to the Life Orientation programme. Furthermore, learners are encouraged to recognise the difference between right and wrong by exploring issues of religious faith and values, and, in so doing, appreciate what it means to be positive embers of a diverse, multicultural society.
4 - The School’s Programme
The implementation of the school’s Religious Education programme and ethos incorporates:
- the celebration of our three Dominican saints’ feast days (including mass), as well as Edmund Rice
- the preparation for mass
- the learning of Christian prayers and songs
- assemblies and meetings that incorporate Bible reading and prayer
- reflections and retreats (for learners and staff)
- a pastoral care programme
- opportunities for outreach
- references to sexual education in a sensitive and age appropriate manner
- projects that reflect the needs of the South African community
- demonstrating and upholding the morals of the school’s religious values across all subjects taught
- bells ringing at midday to encourage the whole school to meditate and/or pray
- encouraging everyone in the school to take care of the environment
- the physical and prayerful support of those suffering
5 - Monitoring and Reviewing
HOD’s and the RE co-ordinators are responsible for the monitoring of the quality of work and teaching in Religious education. Assessments may be set and marked using comments as necessary. Such assessments are used to inform, influence and plan. Furthermore, learner’s work should be kept in an exercise book or work portfolio.