Religious Education is a popular and challenging subject, studied by all students throughout Key Stages 3 & 4 and with excellent GCSE results. It is also a popular choice at A-level.
The aim of our rich and varied curriculum is to enable students to be religiously literate as well as accomplished critical and philosophical thinkers. We encourage all students, whatever their faith stance, to understand the impact of religious belief and to reflect carefully on their own values and beliefs. Varied teaching approaches engage and involve those with religious beliefs and other worldviews. Lessons frequently involve discussion and evaluation of the basis, nature and implications of religious belief and prepare students for the spiritual and moral challenges of the future.
Enrichment and Extra-Curricular Activities
At Key Stage 3 and 4 students have the opportunity to visit Westminster Abbey and other places of worship, as well as to speak to visitors from religious and other believers. Year 9 students have been able to encounter guests representing the six major world faiths in a Faith Forum or in workshops.
At A-level students participate in a variety of revision conferences and in a department-led revision residential towards the end of Year 13.
The department plays a major role in debating in the school, where many topics are directly relevant to the RE curriculum.
Key Stage 3
Term 1 - Introduction to world religions: Christianity, Judaism & Islam
Term 2 - Enquiry: Who is Jesus?
Term 3 - Enquiry: what is Truth?
Year 8
Term 1 - Introduction to world religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism
Term 2 - Enquiry: how do we know? Arguments for God’s existence; problem of evil
Term 3 - Introduction to moral decision-making; Christian ethics
Year 9
Term 1 - Religion & ethics: attitudes towards animal rights. Muslim beliefs and teachings (AQA GCSE topic)
Term 2 - Christianity: 3 major traditions around the world
Term 3 - Inter-faith dialogue
Key Stage 4
AQA Religious Studies GCSE Specification A
Christian and other religious perspectives on contemporary moral issues
1. STUDY OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS & PRACTICE:
Christianity & Islam
2. RELIGIOUS, PHILOSOPHICAL AND ETHICAL STUDIES:
Relationships & families – sex, sexuality, marriage & divorce, family, gender equality
Religion & life – creation & evolution, the environment, animal rights, abortion, euthanasia
Religion, peace & conflict – violence, terrorism, pacifism, just war, weapons of mass destruction
Religion, crime & punishment – reasons for crime, corporal and capital punishment, forgiveness, attitudes towards criminals
A-level (Key Stage 5)
Edexcel Religious Studies, Papers 1, 2 & 3
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PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
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RELIGIOUS ETHICS
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NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES:
Year 12 (AS) Design, cosmological and ontological arguments for God’s existence; the nature and influence of religious experience; problems of evil and suffering; moral issues (war & peace, sexual ethics, environment & equality); a study of three ethical theories; historical and religious context of the New Testament; miracles; the person of Jesus; purpose and authorship of the gospels
Year 13 (A2) Religious language; belief, atheism & agnosticism; debates about God’s existence; religion and science; life after death; Religion & Morality; Deontology & Virtue Ethics; ethical language; medical ethics; scriptural criticism; parables and the ‘Kingdom’; interpreting accounts of Jesus’ death and resurrection; scientific and historical challenges; ethical living