Subject director: Miss C Doyle
Through the teaching of Religious Education and Philosophy and Ethics we are preparing our students to be able to respectfully debate challenging issues and to be prepared for life in a multi-faith and multi-cultural society. We encourage and promote independent thought and fully endorse the social and emotional education of those we teach through developing the skills of empathy, sympathy and respect for all. We promote the idea of global citizenship and we hope to encourage our pupils to live successfully in a socially cohesive environment.
Religious Education is a core subject for GCSE. Key Stage 3 is taught over two years as well as Key Stage 4, meaning the GCSE Religious Studies final examination is at the end of Year 10 and follows the Eduqas exam board Route A. A Level Religious Studies follows the AQA specification.
At Key Stage 3 pupils have the exciting opportunity to learn about the major world religions. They are able to explore some of the key beliefs within these religions in relation to ethical issues, such as prejudice and discrimination, evil and suffering (taught through the Holocaust) and medical ethics. These are taught looking at different religious traditions, as well as non-religious views, ensuring that we are working in-line with the locally agreed syllabus to build knowledge and skills for the GCSE examination.
The GCSE course is designed to be taught in year 9 and 10 without losing the rich diversity of the KS3 curriculum. This has taken place ensuring year 7 and 8 still have a varied curriculum, allowing them the opportunity to continue to ask and attempt to answer the big questions whilst preparing them for the early GCSE entry.
At KS5 the AQA Religious Studies A Level course has proved to be of benefit to pupils who engage well with the content.