Religious Education

Year 7

Topics

• What is a worldview?
• What is religion?
• What does it mean to be Jewish?
• What is equality?
• What does it mean to be Hindu?
   

Skills

• Critical thinking: Analysing religious beliefs, practices, and ethical dilemmas.
• Empathy: Understanding and appreciating different perspectives and cultures.
• Evaluation: Weighing evidence and arguments to form reasoned conclusions.
• Reflection: Considering personal beliefs and values in relation to others.
• Communication: Articulating ideas clearly, both verbally and in writing.
• Judgement: Making informed decisions on complex moral and ethical issues.
• Cultural awareness: Developing a deep understanding of diverse global traditions and practices.

Year 8

Topics

• What does it mean to be Christian?
• Are Humans Superior?
• What does it mean to be Muslim?
• What is Paganism?
• What does it mean to be Humanist? 
   

Skills

• Cultural literacy: Understanding the beliefs, practices, and values of Christianity, Islam, Humanism, and Paganism.
• Critical thinking: Analysing philosophical questions, such as human superiority and the nature of different faiths.
• Empathy and tolerance: Appreciating diverse perspectives and cultivating respect for people of different religions and world-views.
• Comparative analysis: Evaluating similarities and differences between various religious traditions.
• Judgement and evaluation: Reflecting on ethical questions and forming reasoned conclusions based on different world-views.

Year 9

Topics

• What does it mean to be Buddhist?
• Is death the end?
• Can faith survive a genocide?
• Can Islamic religious teachings save the planet?
• What does it mean to be Sikh? 
   

Skills

• Philosophical inquiry: Exploring deep questions about life, death, and the role of faith in extreme circumstances.
• Ethical reasoning: Evaluating the impact of Islamic teachings on environmental sustainability and broader ethical dilemmas.
• Empathy: Understanding Buddhist and Sikh beliefs and values, building tolerance and respect for different world-views.
• Critical thinking: Analysing complex issues like faith in the face of genocide and the role of religion in addressing global conflict.
• Reflection: Encouraging personal reflection on life, mortality, and the significance of belief systems.

Assessment

The RE assessment is a mixed-method approach, combining extended writing, comprehension, visual and verbal reasoning tasks, and multiple-choice questions to thoroughly evaluate your child's understanding, critical thinking, and recall skills.

Topics

The GCSE Religious Studies AQA Route A focuses on Christianity and Islam, alongside several ethical and philosophical themes. Here’s an outline of the key topics:

1. Christianity and Islam:

• Beliefs and Teachings:

  • Key beliefs about God (monotheism, the Trinity in Christianity, Tawhid in Islam).

  • Jesus in Christianity and the Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH) in Islam.

  • Life after death, heaven, hell, judgement, and salvation.

• Practices:

  • Christian sacraments (baptism, Eucharist) and forms of worship.

  • Islamic practices (Five Pillars, Salah, Hajj, fasting during Ramadan).

  • Festivals in both religions (e.g., Christmas, Easter, Eid).

2. Themes:

• Marriage and the Family:

  • Roles of men and women in the family.

  • Marriage, divorce, and cohabitation in Christianity and Islam.

  • Religious and non-religious Views on sexual relationships and contraception.

  • Christian and Islamic attitudes towards same-sex relationships and family life.

• Crime and Punishment:

  • Causes of crime and the aims of punishment (e.g., deterrence, retribution, reformation).

  • Forgiveness, justice, and the role of the law in society.

  • Christian and Islamic views on capital punishment and restorative justice.

  • The importance of human dignity and treatment of offenders.

• Human Rights and Social Justice:

  • The concept of human rights, freedom of religion, and freedom of expression.

  • Prejudice and discrimination (e.g., racism, sexism) and religious responses.

  • Wealth, poverty, and responsibilities of individuals in society.

  • Christian and Islamic teachings on equality, charity, and helping the less fortunate.

• Religion and Life:

  • Origins of the universe and life (e.g., scientific and religious explanations).

  • The sanctity of life and debates on abortion and euthanasia.

  • Christian and Islamic perspectives on animal rights and environmental stewardship.

  • Life after death and the significance of beliefs about the afterlife on moral decisions.

Each topic encourages students to explore religious teachings, ethical implications, and differing perspectives, building critical thinking, empathy, and evaluative skills.

Skills

Evaluate different viewpoints: Clearly compare and contrast perspectives from Christianity, Islam, and secular positions, providing evidence to support their conclusions.

Use specialist vocabulary: Accurately apply religious and ethical terminology in their writing, enhancing clarity and precision.

Justify conclusions: Offer reasoned judgments, ensuring their answers are well-supported by examples and teachings from sacred texts and ethical theories.

Critical thinking: Analysing and evaluating different religious beliefs and ethical perspectives on topics like crime, punishment, and family life.

Comparative analysis: Comparing teachings and practices of Christianity and Islam, as well as different responses to ethical dilemmas.

Empathy: Understanding diverse viewpoints, building respect for different cultures, religions, and personal beliefs.

Ethical reasoning: Reflecting on moral issues such as human rights, social justice, abortion, and euthanasia, and forming reasoned judgments.

Debating skills: Engaging in discussions about controversial topics, considering both religious and secular perspectives.

Problem-solving: Applying religious teachings and ethical principles to real-world social and moral issues.

Assessment

The GCSE Religious Studies (AQA Spec A) assessment consists of two written exams:

Paper 1: The Study of Religions

• Content: Covers beliefs, teachings, and practices of two religions (e.g., Christianity and Islam).
• Marks: 96 marks (50% of GCSE).
• Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes.
• Format: Questions on key beliefs, scripture, practices, and their impact on individuals and communities.

Paper 2: Thematic Studies

• Content: Students study four ethical or philosophical themes (e.g., Relationships and Families, Religion and Life, Peace and Conflict, Crime and Punishment).
• Marks: 96 marks (50% of GCSE).
• Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes.
• Format: Questions evaluate religious and non-religious perspectives on moral and social issues.

Key Features of Assessment

• Mix of short-answer, structured, and extended-response questions.
• Emphasis on understanding religious teachings, applying them to ethical issues, and evaluating diverse perspectives.
• Equal weighting between religious studies and thematic ethical debates.

This structure ensures students develop knowledge of religions and critical thinking on moral and philosophical issues.

Philosophy Club: Every Thursday from January for all students in SF2 (3:35pm-4:15pm).
 

Enrichment: Philosophy every other Friday for KS3 students, ran by the Philosophy Foundation.
 

KS4 Revision Support: Every Thursday for KS4 3:30-5pm for KS4 students, in SF2.
 

Trips: Trips are held across the year for all year groups to various places of worship, religious organisations and guest speakers from all worldviews and religions visit throughout the school year.

Education: Becoming a teacher in Religious Studies, Philosophy, or Ethics at secondary schools or colleges.

Social Work: Working in community services or social care.

Counselling and Psychology: Providing support for individuals in need, particularly in contexts involving faith and spirituality.

Charity and Nonprofit Sector: Engaging in work with organisations focused on social justice, human rights, and community development.

Religious Leadership: Pursuing roles within religious institutions as clergy or community leaders.

Law: Specialising in human rights law or family law, where understanding of ethical issues and diverse beliefs is valuable.

Journalism and Media: Writing or reporting on religious issues, cultural diversity, and social justice topics.

Government and Public Policy: Working in roles that require understanding of cultural and ethical considerations in legislation and community programs.

Homework

KS3
Set day: Monday week 2
Due day: Friday Week 2
Format/platform: Seneca Learning, links available on Class Charts and Google Classroom.

KS4
Set day: Every Monday
Due day: Every Thursday
Format/platform: Paper copies related to GCSE AQA exam writing skills.
 

Revision

1. BBC Bitesize:

   • BBC Bitesize Religious Studies
     Provides comprehensive study guides, video tutorials, and quizzes covering key topics in Religious Studies.

2. AQA Website:

   • AQA Religious Studies
     Offers specification details, past papers, and mark schemes specifically for the AQA GCSE Religious Studies Route A.

3. Revision World:

   • Revision World Religious Studies
     Features revision notes, exam tips, and practice questions across various topics in Religious Studies.

4. Seneca Learning:

   • Seneca Learning Religious Studies
     Provides interactive revision courses tailored to GCSE subjects, including Religious Studies, with quizzes and progress tracking.

Online Tutorials:

1. Khan Academy:

   • While primarily focused on other subjects, Khan Academy has some philosophy and ethics resources that may complement the Religious Studies curriculum. Khan Academy Philosophy

2. Quizlet:

• Quizlet Religious Studies
• Allows students to create and study flashcards, take quizzes, and engage with other students' study sets on various Religious Studies topics.

1. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

   • Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
     Offers detailed entries on philosophical topics related to religion, ethics, and major religious figures.

2. The Pew Research Center

   • Pew Research Center Religion & Public Life
     Provides reports and data on religious trends, beliefs, and practices around the world.

3. YouTube Channels:

   • The School of Life: Offers videos on philosophy and religion that encourage thoughtful discussion and exploration of ideas.

   • CrashCourse Philosophy: Features engaging videos that cover philosophical concepts, including those related to religion and ethics.

   • The Story of God with Morgan Freeman
     A documentary series exploring different cultures’ beliefs about God and religion (available on Disney+, subscription needed).
     
     Please access Google Classroom for more wider reading content.

Students are more than welcome to access the Religious Education Library in SF2 and access any of the books available, there is a huge selection on offer.