Pupils at St. Stephen’s may be at different places in the development of their faith. While most young people will be of the Catholic tradition, some will be of other denominations and faiths or have stances for living which may be independent of religious belief. We support all our pupils in their personal search for truth and meaning in life and this is central to their educational development. We follow the curriculum for Religious Education in Catholic Schools from A Curriculum for Excellence and This Is Our Faith, the syllabus for Catholic education in schools throughout Scotland.
Our school also maintains extremely close links with our local parish, St. Stephen’s Church. We are grateful for, and inspired by, the support and guidance offered by Father Doyle and Sister Frances.
This Is Our Faith is the official guidance which governs the teaching of religious education in Catholic schools in Scotland. It deals with the nature of the Catholic school, the purpose of religious education, the role of the teacher, the Eight Strands of Faith (see below) and the ‘core learning’ in faith which young people are expected to experience from P1 onwards. This is Our Faith will help parents, teachers, catechists and clergy to ensure that young people can:
- develop their knowledge and understanding of Catholic faith
- nurture respect for other Christian traditions and world faiths
- experience opportunities for spiritual growth
- acquire the skills of reflection, discernment and moral decision-making
- commit to beliefs, values and actions in a positive response to God’s invitation to faith.
Teachers will remain faithful to the mission of promoting an understanding of the Catholic faith and they will also teach respect for persons of different religious convictions. At St. Stephen’s we consider the significance of faith from the perspective of the life of the person and of the faith community.
In addition to developing their understanding of the Catholic faith, pupils will also learn respect for, and understanding of, other Christian traditions. They will also come to an appreciation of significant aspects of major world religions, recognising and respecting the sincere search for truth which takes place in other faiths. Where appropriate they will learn similarly about stances for living which are independent of religious belief.
