Religious Studies

It is our intent for the Religious Education element of our school curriculum to engage, inspire, challenge and encourage pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to answer challenging questions.

We aspire to put spiritual development at the heart of our curriculum, within a framework of Christian Values.  We offer engaging and relevant material for students. Our vision is for a high-quality, broad-based religious education, exploring religions and beliefs openly, rigorously, critically and reflectively in the context of a changing and globalised world. Exploring topical and relevant issues such as Medical Ethics, War and Pacifism and Sex and Relationships in KS4 means that our students proactively participate in RE which is relevant, having impact on their lives and on that of their community locally, nationally and globally.

All students within school receive at least 1 hour a week Religious Education Curriculum at KS3 and KS4. Whilst a KS3 the major World Religions are studied, at GCSE, the course enables learners to gain knowledge and understanding of two religions (Christianity & Islam). Please contact the Head of Department for the KS3 overview of Study.

Entry to Full GCSE is inclusive: WJEC Eduqas GCSE (9-1) in Religious Studies for Award from 2018.There is a 50% focus on philosophical and ethical themes and explicit reference to key sources of wisdom and authority (including Sacred Texts).

Component 1: Religious, Philosophical & Ethical Studies in the Modern World

Written Examination: 2 Hours: 50% of qualification. Candidates will study the following four themes. All questions are compulsory.

Theme 1: Issues of Relationships

Theme 2: Issues of Life and Death

Theme 3: Issues of Good and Evil

Theme 4: Issues of Human Rights

This component will be assessed by compulsory questions focusing on knowledge, understanding and evaluation of the identified themes.

Component 2: Study of Christianity

Written Examination1 Hour: 25% of Qualification. This component will be assessed by compulsory questions focusing on knowledge, understanding and evaluation of the identified themes.

Component 3: Study of a World Faith

Written Examination of 1 Hour: 25% of qualification: Candidates will study the beliefs, teachings and practices of Islam.

This component will be assessed by compulsory questions focusing on knowledge, understanding and evaluation of the identified themes.

This specification builds upon subject based content taught in KS3 and reasonable adjustments are made for certain learners in order to enable them to access the assessments.

The linear qualification will be available in May / June each Year. It will be awarded for the first time in Summer 2018.

Parents who might wish to remove or withdraw students from RE lessons may seek meetings with the Head of Department initially and approach the Head teacher. However, this is an unusual scenario and at present, no-one is withdrawn.

Accommodation & Resources

Rooms are well equipped with Multi Media facilities. We have an extensive artefact collection and a wide variety of texts and electronic resources to draw upon.

The Religious Education Department Staff

  • have a strong commitment to promote student’s spiritual, moral, social & cultural development
  • deliver RE inclusively and develop progress, attainment and success in RE for all
  • challenge students in their learning through the added dimension of the key skills of Reflection, Empathy, Communication and Evaluation
  • highlight for students the Tolerance and Respect Agenda, promoting enquiry into and respecting the beliefs & values of others and combating prejudice and discrimination; Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia
  • encourage students to develop their spirituality and own personal growth, as well as to appreciate what it means to have a religious faith, and to respect and understand those who have a different faith, other than their own, or no faith at all. We positively teach Humanism and Atheist perspectives.

Educational Visits, Workshops and Events

The Department aims to offer a wide range of further study opportunities and enrichment activities.

In the RE Department we aspire to create an open and questioning environment, giving pupils the opportunity to learn and reflect about the religious experiences of people around the world and throughout time. We allow time and space to ask and consider Ultimate Questions;

Does God exist?

Why is there suffering in the world?

Is there life after death?

What is the meaning of life?

How do various religions respond to a person’s search for answers to these questions?

Contact Shaftesbury School

01747 854498

office@shaftesburyschool.co.uk




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