Religious Education

Religious Education and Studies Curriculum Intent

The RE and RS curriculum creates pathways for broad and balanced understanding of the diverse and multicultural community we live in. In RE and RS lessons, students encounter a range of distinctive forms of written and spoken language, including sacred texts, stories, history, poetry, creeds, liturgy and worship. These are powerful uses of language, linked to fundamental human needs and aspirations. RE and RS has distinctive concepts and terminology, which stimulate a love of learning for pupils to use their language skills to reflect on their own experiences, and to help them understand and appreciate their own, and others, cultural backgrounds.

In RE and RS, pupils learn to talk and write with knowledge and understanding about religious and other beliefs and values; to discuss many of the fundamental questions of life; to construct reasoned arguments; to think reflectively and critically about spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues.

In KS3 Religious Education lessons students are taught to reflect and understand the diversity of the world that they all share. Students are encouraged to be open-minded about the different ideas, values and beliefs that people hold in the six major religions and to draw comparisons, understanding the differences, but most importantly appreciating the similarities that we all share. Students are encouraged to form and to articulate their own opinions as well as developing listening skills in order to understand the unfamiliar. At the end of KS3 students should gain general understanding and insight into the key beliefs and practices of the six major religions.

KS4 Religious Studies lessons are build up on KS3 curriculum and they provide a broader and deeper understanding of the beliefs and practices of Christianity and Islam, as well as promoting religious literacy and the contemplation of ultimate questions. Students are able to reflect on and develop their own values, beliefs and attitudes in light of what they learn. Students study a range of relevant and contemporary ethical themes that promote British Values and awareness of modern-world issues.

In KS5 Religious Studies lessons students are required to adopt an enquiring, critical and reflective approach to the study of three components; philosophy, ethics and Islam; so that they can reflect on and develop their own values, opinions and attitudes in the light of their study. Students are supported in developing their skills of critical analysis in order to construct balanced, informed arguments and responses to religious, philosophical and ethical ideas. A Level Religious Studies course further challenges students and aims to engage learners in developing an interest in Religious Studies which extends beyond the classroom and can be applied to the world around them.

In all, RE/RS curriculum promotes Socrates adage “The unexamined life is not worth living”.