Religious Studies
The vision for Religious Studies is that all our students build the confidence and the skills to consider some of life’s biggest questions, explore a variety of different world views and are then able to form their own perspective and world view. Our students are the next generation of global citizens, and we have a duty to prepare them for this. We aim to teach our students the skills and knowledge to be able to coexist peacefully and respectfully in a multicultural world, and understand their own place in the world, and what they must bring to it. We want our students to know that how they treat others and how they treat the world at large, is a huge part of their character and who they are as a person. We aim to inspire our students to be courageous advocates, ambassadors for social change, and a positive voice in our future world so they can become responsible, kind and well-educated young people.
Central to our Church of England status is our motto ‘dare to be wise’ we want to develop learners who share in the values that are shown through the example of Jesus. Compassion, kindness, and understanding are integral to human flourishing and wisdom. Knowledge is not just about knowing; it is about doing. We want our students to take the CHRIST values and make them a part of their day-to-day whilst at school and whilst in their wider community. We support students to develop these values in the following ways:
- Being Courageous - we want our students to have the courage and bravery to stand up for what they believe in and speak out about injustices they see both in the College and in the wider world. We look at people such as Malala Yousafzai as a leading example of someone who showed true bravery and courage to stand up for girls right to an education.
- Being Hardworking - Religious Studies is both morally engaging and academically challenging. From as early as Year 7 students are reading, interpreting, and analysing scripture and applying it to different moral and spiritual issues.
- Being Reflective - this comes in two forms in Religious Studies. Reflecting on assessments and looking at ways to improve their work is both challenging and purposeful. We also give students multiple opportunities to reflect on previous and current religious and culture issues such as racism, discrimination, and ill-treatment. From this, students reflect on how these problems have been dealt with in the past and actively stand up to these issues as young members of the 21st century.
- Being Inspiring - Religious Studies allows for the opportunity to look at many inspirational people from all walks of life. We encourage our students to be inspired and ‘be the change they wish to see in the world’.
- Being Supportive - In Religious Studies we talk about a multitude of moral, spiritual, and ethical issues that can sometimes be difficult for students to talk about, this is when support really shines in our subject. Students come together to support and care for one another whilst also learning about other student’s world views and experiences.
- Being Tenacious - Students are encouraged to explore different ethical and moral viewpoints on a range of issues. This enables students to appreciate different points of view and in many cases, strengthens their own viewpoints. By challenging viewpoints, students must work harder to justify and hold onto their own beliefs and world view.
Key Stage 3
Helping students to learn about, understand and appreciate different world views is most important at Key Stage 3 to build a foundation for students to build on throughout the following key stages. At Key Stage 3 the curriculum allows students to explore some of the major world religions and gain an insight into their customs, views, and religious practices. Building on their prior learning at Key Stage 2, students draw on a wide range of subject specific language and apply it to their written work. Students at Key Stage 3 look at ‘the big questions’ such as ‘Is there a God?’, ‘What happens when we die?’ and ‘Who decides what is right and wrong?’. By exploring these big questions, we enable students to make well-informed and reasoned personal responses and express insights that draw on a wide range of examples including the arts, media, and philosophy.
Year 7 Religious Studies Curriculum Map
Year 8 Religious Studies Curriculum Map
Year 9 Religious Studies Curriculum Map
Key Stage 4
Through Key Stage 4 all students will extend and deepen their knowledge and understanding of world views, alongside their academic skill set. As part of the in-depth study of Christianity and Islam, students will look at the beliefs and teachings of each religion and how those beliefs and teachings are practiced in daily life. This work is both challenging and engaging as it asks students to look at sources of religious authority (such as the Qur’an) from the perspective of a religious believer and then analyse how those teachings can be adapted to suit 21st century living. Through this learning, students will deepen their critical thinking and analytical writing skills as well as being given the opportunity to explore ethical themes, and issues such as war, euthanasia and animal rights.
Year 10 GCSE Religious Studies (full course) Curriculum Map
Year 11 GCSE Religious Studies (full course) Curriculum Map
Year 10 GCSE Religious Studies (short course) Curriculum Map
Year 11 GCSE Religious Studies (short course) Curriculum Map
Key Stage 5
A Level Religious Studies is both challenging and insightful. Students follow the AQA specification and cover a wide range of philosophical questions, ethical issues and Christian teachings and thought. Religious Studies at this key stage encourages students to develop their interest in a rigorous study of religion and belief and relate it to the wider world around them. Through their learning they can adopt an enquiring, critical and reflective approach to religion, philosophy, and ethics and will study topics such as The Soul, The Afterlife, Gender and Sexuality and God. A Level Religious Studies encourages independent research and a ‘love of learning’. Students go beyond the textbook and the teacher and enquire for themselves how religion fits in with modern day society and the big issues of current society covering everything from euthanasia to the conscience.