​These resources suggest a range of approaches to religious education (RE) in the Senior Phase to support learners in developing their own beliefs and values at this important time in their learning journey. Produced in partnership with the Scottish Catholic Education Service, they support learning linked to This is Our Faith: Senior Phase.

How to use this resource

This resource can be used by practitioners to stimulate debate and discussion around religion, beliefs and values. While using this resource, the following reflective questions may be helpful:

• How does learning in the senior phase build upon prior learning in RE throughout the Broad General Education and in the This is Our Faith Programme?
• Senior phase RE must follow on from the principles of Curriculum for Excellence RE as outlined in the Principles and Practice paper for RERC and in the RERC Experiences and Outcomes.
• How might learning in RE in the senior phase be meaningfully linked to accreditation programmes, such as the Caritas Awards?
• How does core Religious Education in a Catholic school play a role in terms of pupils’ personal faith development and offer planned opportunities to learn about and through faith? 
• In most cases RE is the only classroom where pupils learn in a ‘comprehensive’ way, i.e. pupils of all learning levels are within the one class, careful consideration must therefore be given as to whether or not to use external certification of core RE.
• Senior Phase RE must ensure that learners have the opportunity to engage in higher order thinking skills.
• Senior Phase learners are young adults, and RE in the senior phase should provide them with the opportunity to explore religion, beliefs, viewpoints and values in a manner which matches their age and ability.
• How does senior phase RE offer learners the opportunity to continue to develop their awareness of the role of religion, beliefs and values in today’s world?
• How does learning in RE in the senior phase support the development of higher order thinking skills and other relevant skills for learning, life and work?
• How does learning in RE in the senior phase continue to support the learner’s own faith development and assist learners in putting their beliefs and values into action in positive ways?

​Explore the resource

​1. Organising a parish conference

This resource allows progression from first level RERC where children and young people will have been exploring the role of their parish, priest and the associations within the local community. In the senior phase, learners will be exploring the reasons for acts of charity and the impact this service can have on others. This will involve learners in:

• reflecting upon church teaching on the need to be of service to others
• exploring how this teaching affects the learner’s understanding of how we can contribute to and act upon the service of the common good
• considering how service helps learners to respond to Jesus’ call to grow in holiness

2. Reflections

This resource will support learners in reflecting upon and understanding the connection between the words of Scripture and the Creed.

This will involve learners in:

• exploring the mystery of the most Holy Trinity as the central mystery of the Christian faith and life
• reflecting upon how this learning affects my own, and others’ knowledge, understanding and belief in one God
• consider how scripture and church teaching reveal the nature of God and how this influences my own and others’ spiritual life and relationship with God

3. Revelation

This resource will support learners in reflecting upon and understanding revelation, how this affects belief, how this influences faith and the role of prayer and reflection in life. This will involve learners in:

• studying scripture and church teaching on divine revelation and how this helps us to understand the nature of God
• exploring the role of the Holy Spirit in revealing the nature of God
• exploring the concept of the dignity of the human person
• considering the role of prayer and ritual in our spiritual life
• considering how revelation can deepen the learner’s relationship with God and others

4. Eucharist

This resource will support learners in considering the role and purpose of the Eucharist and to deepen their knowledge and understanding of Jesus, as well as consider how this learning affects life. This will involve learners in:

• exploring how scripture can deepen the learner’s relationship with God
• considering beliefs about Jesus and the implications of these for my own and others’ belief
• considering the nature and purpose of the Eucharist
• reflecting upon the key features of the Mass

5. Ten Simple Steps

This resource offers a ten-step approach to give structure and coherence to curriculum planning which results in high quality learning in RE.

Downloads

Parish conference:

PDF file: Exemplar - Parish Conference (351 KB)

Word file: Parish Conference - Questions (25 KB)

PowerPoint presentation: Christian Witness - The Parish (5.3 MB)

PowerPoint presentation: Christian Witness - Common Good (521 KB)

PowerPoint presentation: Christian Witness - Scripture and church teaching (561 KB)

Reflections

PDF file: Exemplar - Reflections (233 KB)

PowerPoint presentation: Reflections (17.3 MB)

Revelation

PDF file: Exemplar - Revelation (277 KB)

PowerPoint presentation: Revelation (167 KB)

PDF file: Creation - My Creation worksheet (65 KB)

Eucharist

PDF file: Exemplar - Eucharist (241 KB)

Ten simple steps:

Word file: Ten Simple Steps (104 KB)