Why do we learn Religious Education?
As a Church of England High School, Religious Education will play a vital role in everyday school life. Our aim is to provide all pupils with a forum for discussion and debate on a range of religious matters, whatever their personal opinions or background. RE will inform and educate pupils on the key beliefs and teachings of the six major world religions, whilst also provoking challenging questions about meaning and purpose in life, ultimate reality, issues of right and wrong and what it means to be human. In RE, students learn about religions and worldviews in local, national and global contexts. They discover, explore and consider different answers to these questions. They learn to weigh up the value of wisdom from different sources, to develop and express their insights in response, and to agree or disagree respectfully.
Our approach
KS3
Throughout years 7-9 we provide a curriculum that has a balanced representation of different world religions.
In Year 7 students look at world religions in depth, often through historical narratives which can be applied to modern day living. Students are immersed in a Judeo-Christian historical exploration after learning the key skills needed to be a good theologian and finishing the year learning how to be independent and critical thinkers using philosophy as a platform. We believe that these challenging and ‘higher’ skills are necessary at a young age for an excellent foundation later on.
In Year 8 students build upon their understanding of the how Christian values can impact social justice by looking at Moral Exemplars such as Martin Luther King and Malcolm X and then finish of looking at the Eastern religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. This will give students the opportunity to have studied all major faiths within their first two years before preparing for GCSEs. Christianity is interspersed throughout the Key Stage 3 curriculum looking at Jesus, Christmas, Easter, Pilgrimage and the Sacraments.
Year 9 students begin studying Islam beliefs and practices in preparation for their GCSEs which they will revisit and be examined on at the end of year 11, accounting for 25% of their GCSE grade.
KS4
In Year 10, students study Christianity beliefs and practices. Year 11 students will study religious perspectives on philosophical, ethical and moral issues. Thus, the content learnt from year 9 to year 11 will make up three separate examinations leading to a full GCSE qualification taken at the end of Year 11. Students develop key skills in writing to time with a focus on explanation and evaluation. The results have consistently been of the highest in the academy, with staff who structure and scaffold work tailored for the appropriate set they teach.
Students are monitored and have the opportunity to move between sets within two groups (sets 1-3 and sets 4-7) according to their end of term assessments. Homework is set regularly and will always be exam focused to thoroughly prepare them for the reality of their GCSE.
Year 7 - Religious Education
Autumn |
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Introduction to RE Origins of the Universe |
Spring |
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Judaism The Historical Jesus |
Summer |
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Sacraments Animals and Humans |
All Year 7 subjects Next Year 7 Subject - Physical Education
Year 8 - Religious Education
Autumn |
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Moral Exemplars Hinduism |
Spring |
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Good and Evil Buddhism |
Summer |
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War and Conflict Sikhism |
All Year 8 subjects Next Year 8 Subject - Physical Education
Year 9 - Religious Education
Autumn |
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Not all of us Interfaith Relations |
Spring |
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Christian Beliefs
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Summer |
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Islamic Beliefs |
All Year 9 subjects Next Year 9 Subject - Physical Education
Year 10 - Religious Education
Autumn |
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Christian Practices Worship and Prayer Sacraments Baptism Eucharist Festivals Pilgrimage The world wide Church |
Spring |
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Issues of Life and Death The creation of the world Stewardship and Dominion Sanctity of Life Abortion Euthanasia |
Summer |
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Issues of Human Rights and Social Justice The importance of Human Rights Freedom of Speech Censorship Social Justice Distribution of Wealth |
All Year 10 subjects Next Year 10 Subject - Physical Education
Year 11 - Religious Education
Autumn |
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Issues of Crime and Punishment Causes of Crime Aims of Punishment Forgiveness Capital Punishment |
Spring |
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Issues of War and Peace Peace and Justice Forgiveness and Reconciliation Violence War Pacifism Peace Keeping |
Summer |
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Revision |
All Year 11 subjects Next Year 11 Subject - Physical Education
Year 12 - Religious Education
Autumn |
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Religion: Pre-Islamic Arabia, The life of Prophet Muhammad Philosophy: Introduction to different types of arguments, Teleological Argument Ethics: Utilitarianism and Situation Ethics |
Spring |
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Islam: Sources of Authority, The six articles of faith Philosophy: Cosmological Argument, Ontological Argument Ethics: Natural Moral Law, War and Peace |
Summer |
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Islam: The ummah, The five pillars of Islam Philosophy: Religious Experiences, Evil and Suffering Ethics: Sexual Ethics, Environmental Ethics |
All Year 12 subjects Next Year 12 Subject - Physical Education
Year 13 - Religious Education
Autumn |
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Islam: The different Caliphates through time, The split between Sunni and Shia, Islam and Science Philosophy: Religious Language, Atheism and Postmodernism Ethics: Meta-Ethics, Ethical Language |
Spring |
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Summer |
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All Year 13 subjects Next Year 13 Subject - Physical Education