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Religious and moral education – Third level (Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland): What to Teach (Scotland)

Your Teacher Information Pack for Religious and moral education – Third level (Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland) in Scotland: the curriculum structure, our short summaries with links to the official wording, and key dates.

Country
Scotland
Level
Third level
Ages
11/12–14/15
Source
Curriculum for Excellence – experiences and outcomes (broad general education)
Last checked
2026-10-20

Usually S1–S3 (third and fourth levels are both covered in S1–S3) (a guide, not a fixed year group). Roughly US Grades 7–9 (approximate).

Plan the whole year: open this course in the Year Planner – every lesson dated around your term dates, with a coverage check. Free.

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What to teach

Below are the experiences and outcomes with their official codes, in our own short summaries. Each code links to the official document.

Christianity: Beliefs

  • RME 3-01a Explaining Christian beliefs about God, Jesus, humanity, nature, and resulting actions.
  • RME 3-01b Reflecting on consequences of putting one's own beliefs into action.
  • RME 3-01c Explaining Christian views on ultimate questions and debating them.
  • RME 3-01d Giving examples of Christian contributions to Scotland's development.

Official wording

Christianity: Values and issues

  • RME 3-02a Discussing how Christian responses could create a fairer society.
  • RME 3-02b Taking part in projects that positively benefit others.
  • RME 3-02c Describing how Christian values both contribute to and challenge societies.

Official wording

Christianity: Practices and traditions

  • RME 3-03a Explaining the significance of Christian customs across Scottish traditions.
  • RME 3-03b Understanding Scotland's religious diversity within Christianity and society.

Official wording

World religions: Beliefs

  • RME 3-04a Explaining key beliefs about deity, humanity, nature, and resulting actions.
  • RME 3-04b Reflecting on consequences of putting one's own beliefs into action.
  • RME 3-04c Explaining beliefs on ultimate questions and debating them.
  • RME 3-04d Giving examples of world religions' contributions to Scotland's development.

Official wording

World religions: Values and issues

  • RME 3-05a Discussing how world religion responses could create a fairer society.
  • RME 3-05b Taking part in projects that make a positive difference to others.
  • RME 3-05c Describing how world religion values contribute to and challenge societies.

Official wording

World religions: Practices and traditions

  • RME 3-06a Explaining significance of major ceremonies and customs for followers.
  • RME 3-06b Understanding Scotland's religious diversity and religion's place in society.

Official wording

Development of beliefs and values

  • RME 3-07a Respecting others and understanding their beliefs and values.
  • RME 3-08a Developing awareness of own beliefs and acting on them positively.
  • RME 3-09a Explaining a range of beliefs and debating ultimate questions.
  • RME 3-09b Applying values like honesty, respect, and compassion to moral issues.
  • RME 3-09c Explaining how beliefs, including non-religious ones, shape moral responses.
  • RME 3-09d Understanding the nature of belief and morality.

Official wording

Assessments and key dates

Qualifications Scotland exams 2027: Mon, 26 April 2027 to Thu, 3 June 2027 (timetable). There are no national tests of curriculum levels; teachers judge progress using the Benchmarks.

Trusted free resources

Links only: we don't copy their content and we aren't connected to these organisations.

More packs

Religious and moral education – Early level · Religious and moral education – First level · Religious and moral education – Second level · Religious and moral education – Fourth level · P1 Religious and moral education · P2 Religious and moral education · P3 Religious and moral education · P4 Religious and moral education · All Scotland packs · Find another TIP

Codes and structure from Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes and Benchmarks, Education Scotland (Crown copyright). Summaries are Classfern's own words – always read the official wording via the link.

No official wording is reproduced: codes and structure are facts, and the short descriptions are our own summaries. Always read the official wording via the links. Checked on 2026-10-20.

Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by Education Scotland, Qualifications Scotland (formerly SQA) or the Scottish Government.