LAST UPDATED NOV 2025: Values linked Effort and Behaviour ratings and Journey to Senior Phase page added
In S1, topics are designed to develop both knowledge and skills.
Term 1: Introduction to RME – What is Religion? What are Morals? What is Philosophy?
Term 2: Judaism – Key Beliefs and Practices
Term 3: Islam – Key Beliefs and Practices
Term 4: Moral and Philosophy topic - Creation and Mythology
Topics in S1 may cover content from Curriculum for Excellence Levels 2, 3 and 4, mostly depending on the pupil’s own responses.
Examples of skills for levels are below:
First Level - Describe, Discuss
Second Level - Describe, Discuss, Investigate, Explain, Express a view
Third Level - Describe, Discuss, Analyse, Investigate, Explain, Express an opinion
Working Level and Working Grade descriptions for S1 RME:
Third A: A pupil achieving this will be making excellent progress when they Describe, Discuss, Analyse, Investigate, Explain, Express an opinion. They will consistently demonstrate these skills and show a clear understanding of the content.
Third B: A pupil achieving this will be making good progress when they Describe, Discuss, Analyse, Investigate, Explain, Express an opinion. They will demonstrate these skills most of the time and show some understanding of the content.
Third C: A pupil achieving this will be making reasonable progress when they Describe, Discuss, Analyse, Investigate, Explain, Express an opinion. They will sometimes demonstrate these skills and show a simple understanding of the content.
Third D: A pupil achieving this will be making some progress when they Describe, Discuss, Analyse, Investigate, Explain, Express an opinion. They will demonstrate only some of these skills and sometimes struggle to understand the content.
Second A to D: As above but only with the skills of Describe, Discuss, Investigate, Explain, Express a view
Fourth A to D: As above but including all the skills of Describe, Discuss, Analyse, Investigate, Evaluate, Express a developed opinion.
At this stage in the RME curriculum, pupils on a pathway towards achieving SCQF Level 5 in S4 will be working at Third C or above.
Further information, including an overview for all subject areas can be found here.