Religious Education
Project Touchline makes a significant and distinctive contribution to how Christian values and faith are both taught and experienced within Church of England and Church in Wales primary schools. This work plays an important role in Religious Education at these schools. In fact, Religious Education is strengthened by the innovative approaches used by Project Touchline.
Making Faith Concrete and Experiential
At its heart, the programme makes faith concrete and experiential. Across six weeks, biblical values are introduced through collective worship and then actively explored through structured coaching games in PE lessons. This approach emphasises that Christian faith is not simply something to be learned, but something to be lived out in daily life. In doing so, it moves beyond purely classroom-based, theoretical understanding and enables children to encounter faith in action. This also represents a transformational approach to Religious Education not typically found in standard lessons.
Bringing Christian Values to Life Through Sport
Values are brought to life through sport. Each week focuses on a specific value — for example, wisdom becomes making the right choice for the good of the team; courage is seen in perseverance after failure; forgiveness shapes how pupils treat teammates and opponents; and honesty underpins fair play. In this way, abstract theological concepts are translated into tangible, lived experiences that children can understand and embody.
A Cross-Curricular and Holistic Model
The programme also offers a genuinely cross-curricular and holistic approach. By connecting PE, the arts, and RE, it enriches curriculum breadth while supporting Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural (SMSC) development. Pupils are encouraged to reflect deeply, develop cultural awareness, and articulate their own beliefs and identities — all of which align closely with Ofsted’s expectations for personal development. Additionally, this cross-curricular nature supports the aims of Religious Education in modern schools.
Empowering Teachers for Lasting Impact
A key strength of Project Touchline lies in its investment in teacher development. Through live modelling of values-driven PE lessons and accessible legacy resources, teachers are equipped with a practical and sustainable framework. This ensures that the impact of the programme extends well beyond its six-week delivery, embedding values-based learning into ongoing practice.
Creating a Legacy of Prayer and Reflection
The programme also leaves a lasting spiritual legacy through the establishment of lunchtime prayer clubs. These create space within the school day for stillness, reflection, and prayer, enabling pupils to engage with matters of personal and global significance in a meaningful way. As a result, Religious Education becomes more relevant to pupils’ daily lives.
Alignment with SIAMS and Inspection Frameworks
Importantly, Project Touchline aligns well with SIAMS expectations. By connecting Christian values — such as perseverance, often rooted in passages like Hebrews 12:1–2 — with pupils’ lived experiences, it enhances accessibility for a wide range of learners. SIAMS inspection reports from multiple schools have recognised its contribution to the depth and quality of values-based and spiritual development.
Transforming Whole-School Culture Through Lived Faith
In summary, the distinctive impact of Project Touchline lies in its ability to move Christian values education beyond the classroom and into the rhythm of the whole school day. It transforms faith from something pupils study into something they actively experience. For schools that fully embrace its approach and resources, it has the potential to shape not just lessons, but the wider culture of the school community.
SIAMS Inspection Report – St Mary’s Beaminster C of E Primary School