Discerning Disciples is organised into the six ‘branches’ of the RED, which align with the Catholic Church’s liturgical year.

Branch 1 – Creation and Covenant

Branch 2 – Prophecy and Promise

Branch 3- Galilee to Jerusalem

Branch 4- Desert to Garden

Branch 5 – To the ends of the Earth

Branch 6 – Dialogue and Encounter 

Across these branches, pupils encounter Sacred Scripture, deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith and teaching, study prayer, liturgy and the sacraments, and consider how the faith is lived in the world. Through Dialogue and Encounter, they also learn about other faiths and religions, and develop the knowledge, understanding and dispositions needed for respectful dialogue.

At the heart of Discerning Disciples are the RED’s three ways of knowing: understand, discern and respond. Pupils are therefore encouraged not simply to acquire religious knowledge, but to think deeply about what they learn, make connections, consider different perspectives and make thoughtful judgements.

RE Lessons

Through the curriculum, we want our children not simply to learn about the Catholic faith, but to consider what that knowledge means for them and the way in which they choose to live.

KNOW • DISCERN • RESPOND

Every RE lesson contains three important elements:

KNOW – children encounter and remember important knowledge about Scripture, Jesus, God, the Church and the Catholic faith.

DISCERN – children think deeply, ask questions, make connections and consider what is true, good and beautiful.

RESPOND – children consider how their learning can shape their choices, actions and the way they live their lives.

These three elements are central to every lesson and allow children to move from secure knowledge towards meaningful reflection and thoughtful response.

Lessons are taught through the diocesan DISCERN model, which places purposeful dialogue, strong subject knowledge, carefully planned support, collaborative discussion, responsive assessment and independent thinking at the heart of high-quality RE teaching. This approach is designed so that all pupils, regardless of their starting point, can flourish as discerning disciples.

Ultimately, our ambition is for every child to leave St Joseph’s as a discerning disciple—someone who deeply understands their faith, thinks critically, asks meaningful questions, treats others with dignity and compassion, and actively embraces their responsibility to make a positive difference in the world. 

We want our children to grow as Christ-centred young people with kind hearts, questioning minds, a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for justice.

In faithful partnership between home, school and parish, we create an environment where every child may flourish in virtue—growing in faith, hope, and love. Our mission is to form faithful young people who recognise God's holy will in their lives and are prepared to respond with generous hearts.

RE Assessment

Learning is assessed through two areas: Knowledge, which shows what pupils know and understand, and Discernment, which reflects how pupils interpret, evaluate and respond to their learning. Together, these help us form pupils with kind hearts, questioning minds, a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for justice.