Religious Studies

Subject: Religious Studies

Head of Subject: Miss C Sorry

Intent

In RE we aim to provide our students with the opportunity to develop their understanding of the influence beliefs, values and traditions have on individuals, communities, societies, and cultures, in both a global and local setting. To support our students in making reasoned and informed judgements, and equipping them with the knowledge and skills they need in order to successfully reflect on our ever-changing world with empathy, tolerance, and respect.

We will do this by enhancing their spiritual, moral, social, and cultural awareness; allowing each child to reach their full potential.

The RE Department strives to encourage children to show an interest in diversity, but also the rituals and beliefs existent in the world. We want to engage and excite students about the main world religions, morality, and to encourage philosophical thinking. We believe that the study of RE is important in developing young people to think critically, act ethically, and understand people’s differences through having an open mind. We encourage the embracing of our differences, and the differences religion and belief bring to our society. Through this understanding of the world around us, our students will be better equipped to shape their future. The skills learnt in RE will allow them to debate, discuss, evaluate, and critically analyse. These skills will give young people a voice to be heard, and skills which stretch beyond the RE classroom.  

To allow students to create substantive knowledge about various religious and non-religious traditions in order to see the world through different lenses (philosophical, social science and theological) and gain perspective beyond our own.

Scholarship is embedded in the curriculum to encourage high expectations and allow the opportunity to challenge prior assumptions. Exploration will occur to discover the ways in which people express religion and non-religion, by looking at both lived experience and the fluid boundaries between different traditions. Students are also given the opportunity to develop knowledge about religious texts. 

Sequencing in the curriculum allows for political, environmental, social, emotional, and intellectual dimension. The depth of knowledge in the curriculum has been reviewed to help promote a deeper understanding and to introduce interpretative tools. This allows students the opportunity to advance the skills necessary to develop their understanding of world views and theological concepts, including where they derive from.

In Religious Education, we aim to produce analytical and open-minded learners through a broad and balanced curriculum. We give learners the opportunity to express themselves and have a voice, both through oracy and through extended writing assignments.

The curriculum allows students to learn about a variety of religions at Key Stage 3, focusing on Islam, Christianity, and Humanism at KS4. The lessons are planned to engage students, to challenge them, and to try and make sense of the big philosophical and ethical questions humans have in life.

The RE curriculum aims to weave core British values of justice and equality into the teaching of the impact religion has on individuals and communities.

RE provides our students with the skills to communicate, empathise, evaluate, and debate.

Overview of the RE Curriculum

RE Key Stage 3 Overview

RE Key Stage 4 Overview

GCSE Exam Board Specifications

The specification code for GCSE Religious Studies is Route A3 – including Component 3 Option 3: Islam C120P3

Click here to view the GCSE RE specification

Enrichment and Additional Learning Opportunities 

Humanities in the News club takes place every Friday at lunchtime, which allows students to learn more about the world while exploring current events that link to history, R.E and geography