Religious Education

As a Catholic school, we believe that Christ is at the core of all that we do. Religious Education affords our pupils the opportunity to explore the mystery of God, the teachings of the Church and its application in our daily lives. Pupils also have the opportunity to explore other world religions as part of the Religious Education curriculum.

The department follows Diocesan requirements and teaches according to the Bishop’s Directory for Religious Education. Our aims are to stimulate interest and nurture faith development; foster respect for difference and to promote powers of independent thought; nourish a rigorous understanding of religion and to achieve excellent results across all Key Stages.

Pupils have two lessons a week in year 7 and 8 and three lessons in years 9 and 10 in preparation for their GCSE.  Each teaching room has an interactive board and teachers use a range of resources to facilitate excellent teaching, including online software, which pupils are encouraged to use at home. Both Key Stage 3 and 4 classes are set in Religious Education, enabling pupils to maximise their potential and allowing teachers to challenge and develop pupils’ abilities accordingly.

For quizzes, tips on learning and development in RE please look at Bridge to Eternity 

Key Stage 3

The KS3 Religious Education curriculum is designed to fulfill the requirements of the general norms for Religious Education set out by The Bishops’ Conference. This is explored through ‘the new directory ‘to know you more clearly’

In Year 7, pupils engage in the Study of Catholicism through  the 4 lenses

  • Hear, Believe, Celebrate and Live. Pupils will also have the opportunity to study the other main world views and religions with respect for one’s own identity and that of others and also with courage to accept differences while showing sincerity of intentions.

In Year 8, there is a deepening of these themes with new Expected end of age-phase outcomes. This enables  pupils to make meaningful connections between scriptural texts (hear), Catholic beliefs (believe), prayer and liturgy (celebrate), and the relationship of faith to life (live)

Key Stage 4

In Year 9 and 10 pupils follow GCSE Religious Studies for Edexcel A Catholic Christianity. This qualification consists of three written examination papers, which focus on the Catholic faith, exploring beliefs and teachings, practices, sources of authority and forms of expression and ways of life within Catholic Christianity, in depth.

Pupils will sit their Religious Studies GCSE at the end of Year 10. 

Pupils also have the opportunity to broaden their understanding of religion by studying the beliefs and practices of Islam. In addition, contemporary ethical issues are studied through Catholic and other religious and non-religious perspectives. Both aspects of this syllabus will be tested.

All pupils are assessed regularly to enable progress to be monitored carefully and to allow the sets to be changed during the year as necessary. The Academy ranking exams for each Year group are included in these assessments.

Examination Information Links

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/religious-studies-a-2016.html#tab-