Religious Studies

Intent

At KS3 students are provided with a curriculum that builds and develops their knowledge and prepares them for not only their next steps within their school career but also wider society. Students build their understanding of religions including their beliefs and practices which are then applied to moral, philosophical and ethical issues. This curriculum ensures students leave school with a developed understanding and an ability to apply their learning to issues that they may face within society and ultimately are able to recognise and empathise how others will respond, feel or are affected by these issues.

Students will be expected to complete extended learning and regular homework tasks based on the topics being taught in lessons, as below. The purpose of these shorter homework tasks in religious studies is to reinforce the skills, knowledge and understanding covered in recent lessons and to provide an opportunity for teacher assessment of students’ learning. They may also be used as an opportunity to extend learning, for example through additional reading or independent research. The format of these homework tasks will depend on the material being taught and the skills being practised. Examples of the type of task set includes questions to answer, posters and power points to produce, research using books and/or the internet, revision for tests, learning the spelling and meaning of technical language etc.

Year 7
  • island project including: rites of passage; laws and guidance; leaders; religious books/texts; celebrations
  • Buddhism including: beginning – Buddha; dharma; 3 universal truths; 4 noble truths; karma; samsara; nirvana
  • Islam including: five pillars of Islam; prayer; hajj and special journeys; the Qur'an; Muhammad
Year 8
  • putting belief into practice including: worship; ethical issues; truth
  • the search for truth including: different types of truth; evidence; the difference between science and religion; miracles
  • religion and the media including: media; Christian response; case studies; God slot; mass communication
  • science versus religion including: creation; design; first cause theory; evolution
  • after life including: heaven; hell; purgatory; original sin; the fall
Year 9
  • religion and conflict including: just war; pacifism; punishment; capital punishment; injustice
  • the Holocaust including: what it was like to be child; different camps; resistance; Nuremburg trials; the ghetto
  • religion and medicine including: sanctity of life; abortion; cloning; euthanasia; fertility treatment
  • humanism including: ethics; meaning and purpose; origins of the world
GCSE Religious Studies

Intent

This course offers students the opportunity for the thematic study of religion and religious responses to fundamental ethical questions of life. This specification is suitable for candidates of any religious persuasion, or none, and encourages students to:

  • develop their knowledge and understanding of religions and non-religious beliefs, such as atheism and humanism 
  • develop their knowledge and understanding of religious beliefs, teachings, practices, and sources of wisdom and authority
  • develop their ability to construct well-argued, well-informed and balanced arguments, demonstrating their depth and breadth of understanding in the subject
  • reflect on and develop their own values, beliefs, and attitudes in light of what they have learnt and contributes to their preparation for adult life in a pluralistic society and global community

How will you learn?

Students will be expected to complete extended learning tasks and regular homework tasks based on the topics being taught in lessons. The purpose of these is to reinforce the skills, knowledge and understanding covered in recent lessons and to provide an opportunity for teacher assessment of students’ learning. They may also be used as an opportunity to extend learning, for example through additional reading. The format of these homework tasks will depend on the material being taught and the skills being practised. Examples of the type of task set includes questions to answer, posters and power points to produce, research using books and/or the internet, revision for tests, learning the spelling and meaning of technical language etc. Students are provided with an extra exercise book with their classwork book. This is for key words learnt over the two year course; students fill this in every lesson and are expected to learn key words and their definitions in collaboration with other homework tasks. 

Areas of Study

Religious, philosophical and ethical studies in the modern world

  • relationships
  • life and death
  • good and evil
  • human rights

Study of Christianity

  • beliefs and teachings
  • practices

Study of Islam

  • beliefs and teachings
  • practices

How are you assessed?

Assessment consists of three written papers taken at the end of Year 11:

Paper 1: religious, philosophical & ethical studies in the modern world - 2 hours/50% of qualification

Paper 2: study of Christianity - 1 hour/25% of qualification

Paper 3: study of Islam - 1 hour/25% of qualification

All assessment is undertaken under exam conditions and your answers are assessed against assessment objectives which fall into two categories: 

  • AO1: demonstrate knowledge and understanding of religion and belief
  • A02: analyse and evaluate aspects of religion and belief, including their significance and influence

Where will this take me post 16?

Study of religious studies lays a good foundation for further study of religious studies at A-level and complements other related A-level subjects including philosophy, history, politics, sociology, psychology and English literature.