Currently, detailed consideration is being given to content of the syllabus and curriculum guidelines which Catholic schools are expected to follow when providing Religious Education. This may result in the development of new guidance which will be featured on this page when it is available.

How Catholic R.E. is distinctive Catholic religious education is distinctive in that it takes place within the context of faith. Faith can be understood in two ways – faith as content (a body of knowledge) and faith as a personal act (a process of developing personal belief and trust in God). Both these aspects are central in Catholic religious education, which attempts to introduce young people to a knowledge and understanding of Christianity and of aspects of other world religions in a way that relates to their own life experience. 5-14 R.E. programme Since 1994, programmes of Religious Education in Catholic primary schools and in the early years of secondary schools have been governed by national guidelines (Religious Education 5–14 Roman Catholic Schools) agreed by the Bishops of Scotland and set within the context of a national curriculum and assessment framework for pupils aged between 5 and 14 years. The aims of Catholic religious education at the 5–14 stage are to help pupils to: know, love and worship God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and to know and love Jesus Christ and his Gospel. know and understand the doctrinal and moral teachings of the Catholic Church, which flow from the revelation of Jesus Christ. develop their faith in the light of Scripture, Tradition and the teaching of the Church. accept Christian moral values and live according to them. investigate and understand the meaning and purpose of life, with the guidance of the Scriptures and the Tradition of the Catholic Church. acquire an appreciation of other Christian traditions. acquire an appreciation of some other World Faiths through an appropriate knowledge of their principal beliefs, spiritual values and traditions.	Levels A-E Level F
R.E. in Primary schools All Catholic Primary schools base their R.E. programmes on the Alive-O catechetical series published by Veritas. Alive-O recognises the important roles of parents, teacher and parish in the faith formation of young people. It supports the promotion of faith knowledge in terms of Doctrine and Scripture, as defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, as well as promoting the moral and spiritual formation of children.  Primary pupils would normally spend 10-15% of their curriculum time teaching the R.E. programme. Schools are supported by Dioceses with the provision of exemplar Forward Plans for R.E. courses. These indicate specific content and attainment targets, including knowledge and experience of prayer, the liturgical calendar and preparation for the Sacraments. R.E. in Secondary Years 1 & 2 A publication, which is part of the 5–14 Teacher Support series published by Learning & Teaching Scotland, supports the teaching of religious education at the S1 and S2 stages in Roman Catholic schools. It provides advice and resource materials to complement the 5–14 national guidelines Religious Education 5–14 Roman Catholic Schools.  All students at this stage would normally participate in R.E. classes for approximately 2 hours per week. R.E. in Secondary Years 3 & 4 The national syllabus for S3 & S4, established by the Bishops, sets out agreed themes to be addressed with these years. Dioceses support schools in developing appropriate resources which enable teachers to address aspects of these themes, as appropriate to their context.  All students at this stage would normally participate in R.E. classes for approximately 2 hours per week. R.E. in Secondary Years 5 & 6 The Catholic Education Commission has published A Framework for S5/6 Religious Education to offer advice to schools on a faith development approach to R.E. programmes for this stage. This framework articulates the importance of the elements of believing, trusting and doing in every R.E. programme for students at this stage.   All students at this stage would normally participate in R.E. classes for approximately 2 hours per week.
Faith & Citizenship There are close links between the Religious Education programmes in Catholic schools and aspects of the Education for Citizenship agenda. This package helps teachers in Primary and Secondary schools to demonstrate these links. It identifies areas of the R.E. syllabus for Catholic schools which directly contribute to education for Citizenship in primary and secondary schools.  It provides tools which will help schools to audit how their provision meets the requirements of the Education for Citizenship agenda.