As a school we recognise that parents have the prime responsibility in teaching your children how to build healthy, loving relationships, but our Catholic school also plays a vital part in supporting you as the first educators of your children. The Governors at Our Lady and St Philomena’s Catholic Primary School have adopted the 'Journey in Love' programme to support the relationships and sex education curriculum throughout the school (Nursery to Year 6). The programme of study is authentic to the teachings of the Catholic Church. Below, there is a brief outline of the content of the programme.

A Journey in Love

A Journey in Love has as its foundational premise the belief that we are made in the image and likeness of God and, as a consequence, gender and sexuality are God’s gift, reflect God’s beauty and share in the divine creativity.

In order that children may grow and develop healthily and holistically towards an understanding of their gender and its implications for successful relationships, they must be at ease with themselves and grow in self- knowledge.

An aspect of the mystery of love is treated in an age appropriate way for each year group; children and young people are encouraged to marvel at the wonder and beauty of God’s creative love. This is reflected in each stage of a person’s growth in the Primary years through a series of progressive and developmental tasks, activities and reflections which focus on physical, social, emotional, intellectual and spiritual development.

NURSERY: Wonder of God’s love

REC: God loves each of us in our uniqueness

Y1: We meet God’s love in our family

Y2: We meet God’s love in the community

Y3: How we live in love

Y4: God loves us in our differences

Y5: God loves me in my changing and development

Y6: The wonder of God’s love in creating new life.

‘Love is the light – and in the end, the only light – that can always illuminate a world grown dim and give us the courage needed to keep living and working. Love is possible, and we are able to practise it because we are created in the image of God.’

Deus Caritas Est 39

RSE has been interwoven through the whole curriculum, in particular, R.E, science and PSHE activities.

‘God loves us no matter what’

We have adopted an Equality scheme called ‘No Outsiders in Our School’. This has been recommended to us by Liverpool Archdiocese to support our RSE curriculum. This will be delivered through a series of thought provoking texts, which will be shared on their own, as part of circle time or during English lessons.

‘The aim of this resource is to provide teachers with a curriculum that promotes equality for all sections of the community. But more than that, this resource aims to bring children and parents or carers on board from the start so that children leave our school happy and excited about living in a community full or difference and diversity, whether that is through ethnicity, gender, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or religion. Children must be excited about living in a diverse twenty-first century, and want to keep it like that – not fight against it’ (No Outsiders in Our School – 2016)

If you require any further clarification regarding this aspect of the curriculum please contact the school.

Thank you for your continued support.