Although we are a Catholic school, we believe it is very important that pupils learn to respect the faiths and beliefs which others hold. Therefore, children are given the opportunity to learn about other cultures and faiths throughout their time at St Vincent’s.
The Church calls us to be committed to respecting people from other religions and to recognise that God is at work within them, our brothers and sisters. Pupils are encouraged not merely to learn facts about other religions but to also reflect upon them and gain insight from them. Children are taught to be respectful and understanding of people and traditions from other faith backgrounds.
Each term there is a multi-faith week when the children focus on different elements of the faith they are studying e.g. key beliefs, holy books, places of worship, holy days and festivals. The teaching about other religions is important because:
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Learning about other religions and cultures is one of the ways in which we fulfil our call to love our neighbour. As the Church says, “The love for all men and women is necessarily also a love for their culture. Catholic schools are, by their very vocation, intercultural.” (Congregation for Catholic Education p61).
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The Church states that schools “try to understand better the religion of one’s neighbours, and to experience something of their religious life and culture.” (Catholic Bishops’ Conference p3).
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The Church suggests that schools “find ways in which pupils can learn to engage in dialogue and to develop an attitude of respect for religious diversity. This will necessitate the inclusion of a broader study of both Christianity and of other world faiths in the Religious Education syllabus.” (Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales, 1997)
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It prepares our children for life in modern Britain, giving them an understanding of the beliefs of others.
Please see attached document, to see how other faiths are taught in each year group.
Whole school planner for Other Faiths
The children had an assembly to learn more about the festival of Diwali and the story of Rama and Sita.
Our Year 5 students had the opportunity to broaden their understanding of the rich tapestry of world faiths by visiting the Al-Emaan Centre, a local mosque. They were warmly welcomed and given an insightful tour, allowing them to observe the traditions of Islam, ask thoughtful questions and reflect on the importance of respect for all places of worship. It was a fantastic learning experience and the children came away with a deeper appreciation of the similarities and differences between our faith and others.