Creation and covenant: ‘The heavens are telling the glory of God’ (Ps 19:1). In this branch, pupils will encounter the God who creates and calls a people. They will explore revelation of the Christian belief that all that is comes from God, the Creation accounts in Genesis, and scientific explanations of the process of Creation. They will explore the call of God and his covenantal relationship with his people first through Abraham and Moses, then through the narrative of the Old Testament. (Religious Education Directory 2025 p.62)

Branch 1 is taught in the first half of the Autumn term.

When planning the curriculum for this half-term, we note the number of key events in the liturgical and school calendar and look for clear and explicit opportunities to embed learning by making links between different aspects of our broad curriculum.

In addition, we have identified some key opportunities and themes linked to the unit description.

These include:

• PSHE and RSHE
• Our school promises
• Our school Mission, Vision and Values
• Return to Learning
• Transition
• Season of Creation
• Beginnings
• Promises
• Rules
• Creation myths
• Evolution
• Space

Prophecy and promise: ‘In many and various ways, God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets’ (Heb 1:1). The prophets speak of God reaching to his people, calling them back into a relationship with him. In this branch, pupils will explore the Christian understanding of the teaching of the prophets as they point to the fulfilment of God’s promise in a messiah, Jesus Christ. They will explore the expectant waiting for the Messiah through the Advent season and how this speaks to Christians today as they wait for Christ. Pupils will encounter the story of the nativity of Jesus and the mystery of the incarnation. (Religious Education Directory 2025 p.62)

Branch 2  is taught in the second half of the Autumn term.

When planning the curriculum for this half-term, we note the number of key events in the liturgical and school calendar and look for clear and explicit opportunities to embed learning by making links between different aspects of our broad curriculum.

In addition, we have identified some key opportunities and themes linked to the unit description.

These include:

• Advent
• Romans
• Nativity
• Future
• Light

Galilee to Jerusalem: ‘God’s only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known’ (Jn 1:18). In this branch, pupils will experience the ministry of Jesus, the Word of God. They will learn about the life of Jesus and his revelation of the Kingdom of God through parables, encounters, miracles, and teachings. They will learn about the call of the disciples and the nature of being a follower of Jesus. (Religious Education Directory 2025 p.62)

Branch 3 is taught in the first half of the Spring term.

When planning the curriculum for this half-term, we note the number of key events in the liturgical and school calendar and look for clear and explicit opportunities to embed learning by making links between different aspects of our broad curriculum.

In addition, we have identified some key opportunities and themes linked to the unit description.

These include:

• Places that are referenced in the Bible, places outside of Europe and/or the UK
• Journeys
• Water
• Epiphany
• Christmas
• Seasons

Desert to garden: ‘Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day’ (1 Cor 15:3). In this branch, pupils will study the season of Lent and its culmination in the events of Holy Week. They will learn about the Paschal Triduum at the heart of the Catholic Church’s Liturgy and life. The title of this branch points both to the liturgical journey from the desert of Lent to the garden of Resurrection, but also to the Paschal journey from darkness to light, barrenness to fruitfulness, death to life. (Religious Education Directory 2025 p.62)

Branch 4 is taught in the second half of the Spring term, which includes the season of Lent.

When planning the curriculum for this half-term, we note the number of key events in the liturgical and school calendar and look for clear and explicit opportunities to embed learning by making links between different aspects of our broad curriculum.

In addition, we have identified some key opportunities and themes linked to the unit description.

These include:

• Plants, animals and growing
• RSHE
• Habitats
• Egyptians linked to Passover and the Last Supper
• Life cycles
• Lent, preparing and waiting
• Charity

To the ends of the Earth: ‘Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’ (Mt 28:19). In this branch, pupils will study the events that flowed from the Resurrection and Ascension in the coming of the Holy Spirit and the work of the apostles and early Church. They will also learn about the Catholic Church today as the apostolic Church and how its liturgy and structures flow from the early Church.  (Religious Education Directory 2025 p.62)

Branch 5 is taught in the first half of the Summer term, which includes the season of Easter and Pentecost.

When planning the curriculum for this half-term, we note the number of key events in the liturgical and school calendar and look for clear and explicit opportunities to embed learning by making links between different aspects of our wide curriculum.

In addition, we have identified some key opportunities and themes linked to the unit description.

These include:

• Studying places beyond the United Kingdom.
• Developing understanding of charity and missionary work, including key people from the past.
• Easter
• Pentecost
• Changes in history over time, including how the Catholic Church developed.
• Beyond our locality

Dialogue and encounter: ‘For “In him we live and move and have our being”’ (Acts 17:28). In this branch, pupils will learn how Christians work together with people of different religious convictions and all people of goodwill towards the common good, respecting the dignity of all humanity. They will also encounter other pathways of belief drawing on the teaching of the Church about intercultural dialogue. (Religious Education Directory 2025 p.62)

Branch 6 is taught in the second half of the summer term.

When planning the curriculum for this half-term, we note the number of key events in the liturgical and school calendar and look for clear and explicit opportunities to embed learning by making links between different aspects of our broad curriculum.

In addition, we have identified some key opportunities and themes linked to the unit description.

These include:

• PSHE and RSHE
• Our school promises
• Transition
• Other civilisations around the world
• Civilisations in history
• Catholic Social Teaching
• British Values
• Different cultures
• Similarities and Differences