Religious Education
The intended outcome of Religious Education is to develop “consciously engaged young people who have the knowledge, understanding, and skills – appropriate to their age and capacity – to reflect spiritually, and think ethically and theologically, and who recognise the demands of religious commitment in everyday life.” (Religious Education Directory 2026).
At St Elizabeth’s, Religious Education is at the very heart of our curriculum. The teaching of Religious Education is given 10% of the curriculum time. It is also linked to all subject areas and is integral to the wider Catholic Life of the school.
You can find more information about Religious Education at St Elizabeth’s in our Religious Education Policy.
The Religious Education Curriculum
We teach Religious Education using a Catholic RE Programme called 'Lighting the Path' which is published by Oxford University Press and approved by the Archdiocese of Southwark.
The ‘Lighting the Path’ programme has a spiral approach which means that each year group follows the same broad theme or ‘branch’ but the content builds in depth and complexity according to the age of pupils. The branches have scripture at their core and follow the events of the Church's year so children can make links with the Catholic Life and Mission in school.
The six branches in ‘Lighting the Path’ are:
Autumn term
Creation and Covenant – Children explore Bible stories about how God created the world and made loving promises to people.
Prophecy and Promise – Children learn how prophets spoke of hope and the coming of Jesus, especially during Advent.
Spring term
Galilee to Jerusalem – Children follow stories of Jesus’ life and teachings, and how they guide Christian beliefs and actions today.
Desert to Garden – Children reflect on Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, learning about Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Summer term
To the Ends of the Earth – Children hear how Jesus’ followers began the Church and how Catholics live out their faith today.
Dialogue and Encounter – Children explore Christianity around the world and learn about other faiths and beliefs, encouraging respect and cooperation.
As children progress through the RE Curriculum, they develop their ability to ‘understand’ ‘discern’ and ‘respond’.
Children learn through stories, discussion, art, music, and reflection. They are encouraged to:
- Hear – listen to stories and teachings
- Believe – explore ideas and beliefs
- Celebrate – learn about prayer and special times
- Live – think about how we treat others and care for the world
While the Religious Education curriculum is based on Catholic teaching, it is designed to be inclusive and respectful of all children, whatever their background or beliefs. It does not assume that children are Catholic or religious, and it encourages open-mindedness and respectful dialogue.
The RE curriculum is enriched through visits to our parish churches and visits from our Parish Priests to talk to the children, and through guest speakers.
Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic Social Teaching is integrated into the Lighting the Path programme and teaches children about the inherent dignity of all people and the Christian duty to work for the Common Good in every aspect of life. For more information, visit our Catholic Social Teaching page.
Learning about other faiths
Within the Lighting the Path programme children learn about other faiths and world views and how people of different beliefs can work together for the common good. Each year classes visit a place of worship from a different faith.
