Intent
The Religious Education curriculum is structured to allow students to explore the many religions and beliefs that forms a crucial part of culture and identity in our society. The aim of the curriculum is to provide opportunities for all pupils to learn, enquire and evaluate what religions have to say about fundamental questions of life. It fosters in learners an understanding of how religions and beliefs influence the way we think as individuals and a society as a whole. It enables students to discuss and evaluate their own and others' views in a respectful, reasoned and informed manner.
The curriculum focuses on key concepts such as mutual tolerance (understanding difference and diversity) and respectful attitudes (celebrating human diversity). Over the course of their learning, students will explore a range of religions and world views: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, Buddhism and Humanism.
Implementation
In this subject, we aim to teach Religious Education as a contemporary and dynamic subject where topics are not only taught as discreet lessons but in a cross-curricular manner. As a department we strive to use a variety of teaching and learning methods to bring Religious Education alive. Students are encouraged to retell key religious stories from different faiths; handle religious artefacts; explore a wide range of religious texts through drama and art; discuss and debate key issues; describe and evaluate key philosophical issues relating to religion and conflict and evaluate the impact that key religious figures have on modern society. The students are exposed to a wide variety of extra-curricular opportunities such as educational visits and studies of local saints and their influence on the actions of people.
Impact
The curriculum is designed to help students grow in today's multi-faith and diverse world. They show progress through written work but also in discussions and the way they respond to the many different religions studied. Students are assessed to show understanding of key skills.
We have seen progress in how pupils respond to diversity; they embrace difference, value it and respect each other and their environment, preparing them for KS4.