Religious Studies
KS3
The intent of the Religious Studies Curriculum
In Religious Studies students are introduced to the six major world religions. Our students will learn about how the main world religions are founded and will be able to explore and explain their key beliefs and practices. In Year 9 students will start their RS GCSE course with an Introduction to ethical theory and the nature of God and Gods estimates, continuing this into Years 10 and 11. Every student will achieve a full GCSE qualification in this subject and some will also go on to study for an A Level.
Curriculum Road Map - Religious Studies
Curriculum Sequencing Plan - Religious Studies
How is the Religious Studies Curriculum implemented?
Religious Studies students receive a structured workbook for each year of study, they are expected to learn key terms at home prior to teach lessons to help subject specific language. They are then assessed after each unit in order to develop exam strengths.
The impact of the Religious Studies Curriculum at the end of Key Stage 3
The KS3 RS programme of study gives students the skills, knowledge and experience to succeed at GCSE. By the end of Year 9, our students have attained a level of competence that will allow them to make a positive start to the GCSE course. Every student will go on to study GCSE RS, and one of the main aims of the KS3 course is to make this transition easy so that every student can achieve their potential.
How is it assessed?
There will assessments each half term, with questions pitched at different levels in order to assess key skills within the subject.
How can I help my child?
Encourage extended learning. Discuss the themes covered, asking about their lessons, feedback is welcomed. Encourage extended learning.
KS4
The intent of the Religious Studies Curriculum
Students will study two world religions in depth and then learn about a range of moral and philosophical issues including the religious perspectives on them.
How is the Religious Studies Curriculum implemented?
Component 1: Beliefs, teachings and practices of Christianity and Hinduism
Component 2: The study of four Religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes:
Theme B: Religion and life. (The environment, Abortion, Euthanasia, beliefs about life after death, Religion and Science, big bang evolution and creation)
Theme D: Religion, peace and conflict. (War, Terrorism, The U.N., Nuclear Disarmament, Just War Theory)
Theme E: Religion, crime and punishment. (Aims of Punishment, Death Penalty, the prison system, Punishment Theory)
Theme F: Religion, human rights and social justice. (Human Rights, Prejudice, Wealth and Poverty, Apartheid and Segregationist)
The impact of the Religious Studies Curriculum at the end of Key Stage 4
How is it examined?
Component 1:
Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
96 marks (plus 3 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar
50% of GCSE
Component 2:
Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
96 marks (plus 3 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar
50% of GCSE
What qualification will I get? What could it lead to?
- AQA Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Religious Studies
Religious Studies shows employers and higher education institutions that you can understand the views of others, argue a point convincingly and evaluate an argument. Any career working with other people would regard it as beneficial, especially management where decisions have to be made in an analytical way.
Career directions could include:
Medicine, Cosmologies, Case Worker, Community Services Specialist, Human Resource Specialist, Social Worker, Youth Service Worker, Teacher or Professor.
Useful Links:
KS5
Religious Studies – A-Level Qualification
Examining Body:
OCR
Entry Criteria:
A previous qualification in Religious Studies is desirable plus ideally a grade 5 GCSE English Language
Course Leader:
Mr A Mayers
Why? :
Arguably the ultimate questions in life are: Where did everything come from? What is the best way to live while we are here? And what, if anything, happens when we die? Start thinking about these absorbing topics by taking an A Level in Philosophy and Ethics. The course is intellectually rigorous, valued by Universities, and is a good way to develop transferable skills such as: understanding, analysis, communication and reflection. You will learn to communicate your ideas in a clear and logical way and develop your argument and counter argument skills. The topics we study are also interesting and enjoyable.
Course Structure:
In the Philosophy of Religion area of the course you will be studying the foundations of western philosophy with particular attention to Plato and Aristotle. You will then focus on the philosophy of religion, which is devoted to different arguments about whether or not there is a God. Other key questions include: Do we have a soul? Is there life after death? When people say they experience God, does it make sense to believe them? Do ideas about God make sense and are they meaningful to others? We will also explore ideas about the nature of God and issues in religious language. In Ethics you will study the thinking behind the different ways in which humans make moral decisions. This includes Virtue Theory and the Natural Law theory. You will then go on to investigate how these theories impact upon some moral issues, including euthanasia and sexual ethics. You will also explore ideas about what our conscience is, and how free our moral choices actually are. The debate surrounding the significant idea of conscience and sexual ethics and the influence on ethical thought of developments in religious beliefs. Explore ideas about some controversial religious issues: Who are we (as human beings) and what is the purpose of life? Where do ideas about God come from and how did the Bible really come to be written? Who was Jesus, and what did he really teach? Why don’t all religious believers get on with each other? What is the future of religion and what role do gender issues play in its development?
Extended Learning:
You will receive a text book to cover all the content. As you progress through the course you will be expected to complete tasks relevant to each topic on a weekly basis. For example, completing a set of review questions or completing a diagram to use in the next lesson.