Religious and moral education includes learning about Christianity and other world religions, and supports the development of beliefs and values.
It also includes aspects of philosophical enquiry.
Scotland is now a nation which reflects a wide range of beliefs, values and traditions.
Religious and moral education enables children and young people to explore the world’s major religions and approaches to living which are independent of religious belief, and be challenged by these different beliefs and values.
It supports children and young people in developing responsible attitudes to other people, their values and their capacity for moral judgement.
The study of Christianity, which has shaped the history and traditions of Scotland and continues to exert an influence on national life, is an essential feature of religious and moral education for all children and young people.
Learning through religious and moral education enables children and young people to:
- develop a knowledge and understanding of Christianity and other world religions and recognise religion as an important expression of human experience
- explore moral values such as wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity
investigate and understand the responses which religions can offer to questions about the nature and meaning of life - develop the skills of reflection, discernment, critical thinking, and deciding how to act when making moral decisions
- develop their beliefs, attitudes, moral values and practices through personal search, discovery and critical evaluation, and make a positive difference to the world by putting their beliefs and values into action.
Religious Education in St. Timothy’s
This Is Our Faith, the new syllabus for Catholic religious education in Scotland, was published on 7th November 2011 and launched in the presence of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland in Edinburgh with an audience of invited guests, including pupils, teachers, parents and clergy.This is the first religious education syllabus to be originated wholly in Scotland and designed to meet the needs of young people in Scotland.
In this area of the curriculum, the teachers are supported by regular visits and assistance from the clergy of St. James’ Church. The R.E. programme provides the opportunity for celebration, prayer and reflection in implicit and explicit ways. Preparation for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation is effectively implemented at the appropriate stages in the child’s development.
It is recognised that the Education Act allows parents to withdraw their children from any instruction in religious subjects and from any religious observance, and such pupils will not be placed at any disadvantage with respect to secular instruction. Parents can exercise this right on consultation with the Head Teacher.
However, it is manifest from the history of denominational education in Scotland and particularly from the continuing guarantees given at the time of the passing of Education (Scotland) Act 1913 that such religious instruction and observance form part of the religious tradition and ethics in Catholic schools, and play an important part in the education provided in this school.
Parents from ethnic minority religious communities may request that their children be permitted to be absent from school in order to celebrate recognised religious events. Only written requests will be considered. Appropriate requests will be granted on not more than three occasions in any one-school session and the pupil noted as an authorised absentee in the register.
