Curriculum
Religious Studies
Why study religious studies?
Religious Studies aims to promote religious understanding and appreciation of people from all backgrounds. Religious Studies equips pupils to meet the circumstances of living in modern society and become good citizens. It promotes a sympathetic understanding of religions, including both those that are locally represented and those which have been formative in the lives of people in the history of the world. Pupils will be challenged with questions about belief, values, meaning, purpose, and truth, enabling them to develop their own attitudes towards religious issues. Through Religious Studies, pupils gain an appreciation of how religion, philosophy and ethics form the basis of our culture. They develop analytical and critical thinking skills, the ability to work with abstract ideas, leadership, and research skills.
How will I study religious studies?
Religious Studies provokes challenging questions about the meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong, and what it means to be human. Pupils are given regular opportunities for reflection, discussion, and debate. Pupils know and understand a range of religions and worldviews so that they can recognise, appreciate, and appraise the nature, significance and impact of different ways of life and ways of expressing meanings. This allows them to identify, investigate and respond to questions posed and responses offered by some of the sources of wisdom found in religions and worldviews. This allows pupils to express with increasing discernment their personal reflections and critical responses to questions and teachings about identity, diversity, meaning and value, including ethical issues.
What will I study at key stage 3?
During Key Stage 3, pupils study a wide variety of world faiths. Pupils explore the origin and sources of religious faith, learning about different beliefs about God, examples of religious leaders in different faiths, and holy books. Pupils then look at ways of expression for religious believers including religious identity, worship, and rituals. They also explore how believers link to events from the past, through festivals and pilgrimage.
Pupils then delve into responses to ‘Big Questions’ through the exploration of theological, philosophical, and sociological viewpoints. These questions are examined through the lens of different viewpoints and include topics such as war, evil and suffering, the origin of life and death, and the environment.
The Religious Studies curriculum also covers non-religious worldviews. Pupils explore what do we mean by religion and worldviews, how faith inspires people, and religion and its relevance in the 21st century.
What will I study at key stage 4?
At Key Stage 4, pupils study the beliefs and practices of Islam and Christianity in depth. The curriculum then takes a more thematic approach across Islam, Christianity, and non-religious worldviews. Pupils explore matters of life and death such as the origins of the universe and the origins of humanity. This thematic approach continues by looking at crime and punishment. Pupils study lawbreakers and types of crime, attitudes to suffering, and forgiveness. Pupils go on to study family and relationships. This includes marriage, relations outside of marriage, and gender. Pupils also study peace and conflict. This looks at violent and non-violent protest, war and pacifism.
What will I study at key stage 5?
At Key Stage 5, students will embark on a rigorous study of religion and belief and relate it to the wider world. Students will develop knowledge and understanding of Islam and its contribution to individuals, communities, and societies. In the study of philosophy and ethics, students will adopt an enquiring, critical and reflective approach and reflect on, and develop their own values, opinions, and attitudes in relation to contemporary issues.
Assessment at Key Stage 4
Religious Studies AQA 8062/SA
| Overview | Focus |
|---|---|
| Paper 1: The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices. Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes 102 marks 50% of GCSE |
Christianity: Beliefs and Teachings Christianity: Practices Islam: Beliefs and Teachings Islam: Practices Each religion has a common structure of two five-part questions of 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12 marks. Each religion is marked out of 48. |
| Overview | Focus |
|---|---|
| Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes 99 marks 50% of GCSE |
Either four religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes or two religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes and two textual studies themes. Religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes:
Textual studies themes:
Each theme has a common structure of one five-part question of 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12 marks. Each theme is marked out of 24. |
Assessment at Key Stage 5
A Level Eduqas Religious Studies: A120PA
| Overview | Focus |
|---|---|
| Component 1: A Study of Religion Written exam: 2 hours Marks: 100 33.33% of A level |
Religious figures and sacred texts; religious concepts and religious life; significant social and historical developments in religious thought; religious practices and religious identity. Learners to answer one question from Section A out of a choice of two and one question from Section B out of a choice of three. |
| Overview | Focus |
|---|---|
| Component 2: Philosophy of Religion Written exam: 2 hours Marks: 100 33.33% of A level |
Arguments for the existence of God; challenges to religious belief; religious experience; religious language. Learners to answer one question from Section A out of a choice of two and one question from Section B out of a choice of three. |
| Overview | Focus |
|---|---|
| Component 3: Religion and Ethics Written exam: 2 hours Marks: 100 33.33% of A level |
Ethical thought; deontological ethics; teleological ethics; determinism and free will. Learners to answer one question from Section A out of a choice of two and one question from Section B out of a choice of three. |
Careers
The study of Religious Education and Philosophy can lead to careers ranging from charity fundraiser, mediator, and youth worker to equality, diversion and inclusion officer, chaplain and editorial assistant.