Religious Studies
Key Stage 3
The vision for the Religious Studies department is for all students to enjoy the study of different religious and non-religious beliefs and have an understanding of the society we live in. Lessons in Year 7 and year 8 include units from the in depth Leicestershire locally agreed syllabus. In Year 7 students study Christianity and Buddhism. In Year 8 students focus on Islam and Sikhism.
Religious Studies provides a safe place in the curriculum to discuss controversial global issues, such as what does it mean to be good? Across year 7 the students consider the following questions: What is religion? How does it encourage people to be good? What is so radical about Jesus? Should happiness be the purpose of life? What do people celebrate and why? How can people express the spiritual through music and art? In year 8 questions considered include: Is death the end? Is religion a power for peace or a cause of conflict in the world today? Why is there suffering? Does living biblically mean following the whole Bible? What difference does it make to believe in Sikhism?
Religious studies provides students with the opportunity to develop a range of skills; debating issues, presentation skills, interpersonal skills, such as empathy, thinking skills, such as extended writing and constructing arguments. Students are assessed at the end of each topic, through varied methods such as letter writing, leaflets and PowerPoint presentations.
Key Stage 4
All students will continue to study Religious Studies throughout their time at school. Lessons will focus on: Christianity beliefs, teachings and practices, Christian views on marriage and matters of life and death, Muslim beliefs, teachings and practices, Muslim views on peace, conflict, crime and punishment. 50% of the course is dedicated to the study of Islam, and 50% to the study of Christianity. The majority of students will study the Edexcel GCSE course which has two 1 hour 45 minute exams at the end of the course.
Religious Education (RE)
Schools have to teach RE but parents have the right to withdraw their children for all or part of the lessons. Pupils may raise spontaneous questions on religious matters in subjects other than RE, and issues related to religion come up in other subjects such as history or citizenship. However, the right of withdrawal does not extend to these areas of the curriculum.
If you would like to proceed with making a request for withdrawing your child from the subject, please contact the school to discuss this request in more detail with the Curriculum Leader before putting your request in writing.