Religious Education Subject Staff

Miss Drake Head of RE Faculty
Miss Davies Teacher of RE
Mr Hurst Teacher of RE
Mr Stewart Teacher of RE AHT - Curriculum and Assessment

 


Subject Overview

In RE, it is our intent to provide learners with the opportunity to investigate the beliefs and practices of all six major world faiths and discuss the impact they have on the lives of believers, communities and themselves. Learning in RE follows a thematic approach allowing learners to consider religious and personal responses to a range of relevant, pressing current issues. The curriculum will promote learners curiosity and confidence to ask deep and meaningful questions about the world around them and dispel misconceptions to enhance social, moral, spiritual and cultural cohesion and understanding. We will support our learners to develop skills that are transferable across all subjects and employment in later life and will deepen and broaden their understanding of the world around them now and in the future so they become accepting and tolerant of others. Learners will be inspired to continue the study of religion post 16 and will be encouraged to ‘think like a philosopher’.


Key Stage 3

Our curriculum enables students to explore how religion and world views shape how we view the world, and how this translates into our actions within the wider society. Students will deepen their knowledge of what it means to believe in the 6 main world religions. Students will understand the history of religion, the similarities and the differences. What makes our curriculum thought provoking is our investigation into how religion is a lens that affects the way we view the world. Our students will grapple with complex questions such as ‘Can all criminals be forgiven?’. While also exploring serious issues such as Islamophobia and the prejudice faced by certain religious groups. In line with cotemporary developments pupils will have the opportunity to explore a variety of worldviews such as Humanism, Jainism and the Baha’i tradition. Using census data and other case studies such as Diwali celebrations in the North West and Eid celebrations at football grounds, students will make their own judgement about whether or not religion still matters in the 21ST centaury.  Once their KS3 journey has come to an end, students will have explored a variety of topics such as human rights and the troubles in Northern Ireland. 

 


Key Stage 4

Once students have explored a variety of religions at KS3, we will explore Christianity and Islam with greater intricacy at KS4. By completing the Eduqas GCSE students will deepen their understanding of the beliefs and practises within both religions. Once this knowledge is solidified, students will progress onto applying these beliefs to thematic topics such as good and evil, in order to debate questions such as “Does then existence of suffering prove that God is not real?”. This course develops students’ awareness of the influence of religion on our history, politics, ethics and economics. We live in a diverse society and as a result, understanding religious beliefs means we can have a better understanding of the world we live in. 


Key Stage 5

Students develop their understanding and appreciation of religious beliefs and teachings, as well as the disciplines of ethics and the philosophy of religion. Students will study the OCR religious studies course which allows a more complex investigation into the development of religious thought, the philosophy of religion and the philosophy of ethics. Students will have the opportunity to critique world renowned philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. They will also explore issues such as the impact of religious visions on how Christians view the world. While also developing further their knowledge from KS4 in order to try and find a solution to the existence of moral evil.