RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
In St Joseph’s we believe the school should complement the Catholic home. Religious Education is much more than a curricular area and permeates the whole life of our school through the promotion of a set of values universally acceptable to all. The notion of universality is key to our Catholic faith and is central to our conviction that the faith, truth, and mission of the Church are intended for all people, in all places, and at all times. We serve students from diverse backgrounds, providing a safe, respectful, and faith-based environment that is welcoming to all, regardless of their personal beliefs.
Children from Primary 1 to Primary 6 follow the newly introduced ‘Grow in Love’ programme. We also work very closely with our parish priest, Fr. Conor McGrath, who is very supportive of the work that goes on in school.
Our Religious Education programme has a strong pastoral element and we seek to promote awareness, sensitivity and respect for other sincerely held beliefs, and look to other religions and faiths and interlinked materials to enrich our experience of the world.
Children are prepared for the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Primary 3, the Sacrament of the Eucharist in Primary 4 and the Sacrament of Confirmation in Primary 7.
Our staff are sensitive to the fact that not all of the children in our school will be preparing for the sacraments and teachers are careful to ensure that no child in our school feels excluded at any time.
At St Joseph's Primary School we respect parental choice. Parents and carers have a stautory right to withdraw a pupil from Religious Education and/or collective worship. If you wish to do so, please complete the standard withdrawal form (DE annexA) indicating which elements (e.g. full RE programme or certain prayers/assemblies) you wish to withdraw from. No reason need be given.
Please return the form to stjosephsps@gmail.com. We will process your request promptly and confirm in writing within 5 school days.
Pupils withdrawn from RE or worship will remain on-site, supervised in a suitable activity.
Parent Q and A
Q: Can I withdraw my child from RE or collective worship?
A: Yes. Every grant-aided school must provide RE and worship, but parents have a legal right to withdraw their child from all or part of RE and/or collective worship. This is a statutory right and there is no requirement to provide reasons for doing so.
Q: How do I make the request?
A: Complete the standard withdrawal form (Annex A of Circular 2026/09) and return it to stjoesps@gmail.com. Indicate on the form what you are withdrawing from (e.g. “all RE” or “prayers in assembly”)
Q: Does my child have to give a reason or attend a meeting?
A: No. You do not have to explain your decision, and no meeting or approval process is required. The form will be granted immediately.
Q: What will my child do during RE/collective worship time?
A: The child will stay on the premises under supervision and engage in a suitable quiet activity (e.g. independent study or reading). This is to ensure the child has meaningful, alternative work to do, without being isolated or labeled.
Q: Can I choose only part of RE/collective worship?
A: Yes. The form allows partial withdrawal (e.g. specific topics or parts of collective worship). Please specify exactly what you want to withdraw from on the form.
Q: Who can I contact for help or more information?
A: Please contact the Pricipal at stjoesps@gmail.com . You can also find the standard form and circular details on the school website (link above) or at the school office.