Catholic children in our school receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist in Year 3 and the Sacrament of Confirmation in Year 6 at St Thomas More Church.  The school works closely with the Parish catechists involved with the preparation of children for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation.

‘Parents are the First Teachers of the Faith’ 

The Baptismal ritual states that parents are “the first teachers of their child in the ways of faith.” This is echoed in the words of the Catechism: “parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children.”

As part of the family of schools of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, we use the Diocese’s own curriculum strategy from Foundation (Nursery) to Year 6 called ‘Learning and Growing as the People of God.’ (often referred to as ‘The Strategy’) to teach Religious Education.

The Strategy was written using the Learning Outcomes provided in the Bishop’s Conference document the Curriculum Directory as a basis.
The Strategy provides teachers with a range of suggested cross-curricular activities which can be differentiated to suit the learning needs of the children in their class in order for them to explore the Catholic faith and achieve the learning outcomes. There is a strong emphasis on pupils engaging with and responding to questions of life in the light of religious teaching.

The Strategy is divided into a number of units for each year group, and there is a strong Sacramental focus in each year group. The Year 3 and Year 6 books fully prepare the children to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist in Year 3 and Confirmation in Year 6.